Final answer:
Network television viewership is evolving, with cable and internet changing viewing habits. While network news programs still draw large audiences, there are signs of viewer fatigue and diversification in media consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general trend in the US is that network television viewership is in a state of fluctuation. As indicated by various data points including cable and satellite viewership surpassing that of traditional network television since 2001, and the fact that the amount of time spent watching television remains high at an average of 34 hours weekly, there are considerable changes in viewing habits. Despite the larger audience sizes for network television, with a noted viewership for the evening news programs at 23 million viewers per night as compared to cable's 2.6 million, there is a noteworthy diversification of viewers' preferences.
With the introduction and expansion of cable in the 1980s and the internet in the 2000s, viewers gained more control over their media consumption, leading to a more interactive television experience. This has led to potential effects such as viewer fatigue regarding news and politics and has affected even presidential communications, with a noted decrease in viewership for events like the State of the Union address. The presence of nearly one thousand for-profit television stations and federal requirements for cable providers to carry these stations demonstrate the still-prominent position of network television within the US media landscape.
However, this position is challenged by increasing access to a variety of content and the control viewers have over their media consumption, suggesting continued evolution in how Americans engage with television and receive news, possibly influencing future political engagement and marketing strategies.