Alan B. Albarran

Profile: An examination of television motivations and program preferences by Hispanics, blacks, and whites

Television motivations and viewing preferences for 12 program categories were examined in a survey of 1,241 adults representing three ethnic groups (whites, blacks, and Hispanics). Key differences were observed in terms of motivations for using television and program preferences. Blacks and Hispanics reported higher levels of satisfaction with television than whites. This study suggests that blacks use television to satisfy entertainment and diversionary motivations, while Hispanics use television for information and entertainment.

Competition between the cable and broadcast industries: A niche analysis

The authors show that although there is increasing competition between cable television, broadcast television, and radio, broadcast television remains a strong competitor and has not yet been displaced by cable television in the advertising market. Radio still remains competitive, but not to the degree of broadcast television. The authors suggest that cable television will not rapidly overwhelm and push broadcast industries out of the market.

An assessment of utility and competitive superiority in the video entertainment industries

The authors examine the satisfactions obtained by audiences from different video media (broadcast television, cable television, videocassette recorders, premium cable television, and pay‐per‐view cable services) and examine the extent to which the different media compete in meeting those satisfactions. The study illustrates how merging niche theory with gratifications research can be used to effectively study competitive relationships.

Measuring and analyzing diversification of corporations involved in pay cable

This study examines diversification by the primary corporations involved in the operation of pay cable channels—Disney, Playboy, Time, and Viacom‐using a resource dependence perspective. The authors applied a diversity index to each company to understand how each company uses existing resources and might apply them in future ventures.

Managing Radio Market Clusters: Orientations of General Managers

This study reports the results of a nationwide census of the general managers (GMs) managing three or more stations among the 25 largest radio companies. The census serves as a baseline study for understanding the functions of managing consolidated media properties. Among the key findings, the GMs emphasized the importance of middle managers in the success of radio clusters. The GMs perceive their jobs as a function of four factors: people, organization procedures, financial performance, and prioritization of work and personal affairs. These four factors were compared to the business process reengineering model and were found to be concentrated in only two of four areas.