Persuasion and television: How to stay on the air on the five major broadcasting networks

Abstract

This honors thesis postulates that there are certain determining factors, specifically persuasive factors, that the five major broadcasting networks can use when selecting which shows to order so they will have a decreased cancelation rate. The current cancelation rate of shows on these networks is nearing 70% and has been steadily declining for the past decade. Shows need to be persuasive in order for the networks to make money, thus the shows should use persuasion. The persuasive factor that shows should use to initially capture viewer attention is credibility. Credibility for these shows can be in the form of expertise or trustworthiness. This can be done by casting a well-known actor or using a theme that has been successful in the past, a trusted theme. A successful television show must also gain the compliance of their viewers through the use of rewarding activity, punishing activity, and/or the activation of impersonal commitments. These keep viewer interest from episode to episode and hopefully from season to season. Another element of persuasion that shows must utilize is motivational appeals. These appeals can be anything from fear to sex appeals. These appeals keep viewer interest during the episode and ultimately keep them watching entire episodes. All of these persuasive elements need to be shown visually and audibly. Watching a show is reinforced even more when a viewer hears and sees something, thus increasing a shows chance of being renewed.