Television in the United States facts for kids
Television is a really big deal in the United States. It's one of the main ways people get news, watch shows, and learn new things. Back in 2011, almost every home in the U.S. had a TV, about 96.7% of them! That's like 114 million homes. Most families even have more than one TV.
TV ownership was highest around 1996-1997, when 98.4% of homes had at least one TV. It's amazing to think that in 1948, only 1% of homes had a TV. But by 1955, that number jumped to 75%! By 1992, many homes, about 60%, also had cable TV.
American TV networks are some of the largest in the world. Shows made in the U.S. are often watched in many other countries too. In the 2000s and 2010s, lots of amazing TV shows came out. Because of this, many people say that American television entered a "golden age" around the early 2000s. People still debate if this golden age is still happening today.
Top TV Networks in the U.S.
The four biggest TV networks in the United States are the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), CBS, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), and the Fox Broadcasting Company (Fox).
The first three – NBC, CBS, and ABC – are often called the "Big Three." They actually started out as radio networks before TV became popular!
What's On TV?
During the day, you can often find talk shows and soap operas on these networks. CBS also still shows game shows. In the evenings, ABC, CBS, and NBC all have news programs to keep you updated.
On Saturday mornings, TV used to be mostly for kids! You'd see lots of animated cartoons and sometimes live-action shows. On weekend afternoons, you might find sports, infomercials (which are like long commercials), or even movies. Then, in the evenings, it's back to the same types of popular shows you see during the week.
See also
In Spanish: Televisión en los Estados Unidos para niños
