In the domesticated countries the change on society was minimal. Cable television became standard allowing people to see movie channels and videos. All news, sports, and music channels that were predicted to fold under the understanding that there wasn't a demand for them thrived and created more specialized channels. For a short time this changed the way people received their information with in-depth up to the second reporting. The 80's was also the age of the fear based televised political ad. Though there were some political commercials that were suspect during the 70's, they became blatant and standard in the 80's.
The changes were more demonstrative in communist and third world countries. Access to information beyond state television was denied to many for the first two to three decades of television since it began in 1948. In the 80's color televisions were affordable in the domesticated countries, so used black and white televisions made their way en-mass to South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. This gave people more access to information. Football went from being spectacularly popular to colossally popular. But without the broadcast signal the main addition to their viewing repertoire was religious programming. This likely contributed the massive swing of catholics in Central and South America to Evangelicals in the 90's and 00's.
Regardless, television has only an aesthetic influence on society as a whole. Though some may argue a larger influence, those examples only became more apparent in the 90's and 00's. That's when broadcast television was deregulated by Bill Clinton and massive global conglomerates were able to control the content of large audiences.
Hope this helps.
The changes were more demonstrative in communist and third world countries. Access to information beyond state television was denied to many for the first two to three decades of television since it began in 1948. In the 80's color televisions were affordable in the domesticated countries, so used black and white televisions made their way en-mass to South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. This gave people more access to information. Football went from being spectacularly popular to colossally popular. But without the broadcast signal the main addition to their viewing repertoire was religious programming. This likely contributed the massive swing of catholics in Central and South America to Evangelicals in the 90's and 00's.
Regardless, television has only an aesthetic influence on society as a whole. Though some may argue a larger influence, those examples only became more apparent in the 90's and 00's. That's when broadcast television was deregulated by Bill Clinton and massive global conglomerates were able to control the content of large audiences.
Hope this helps.