How Market Research Shaped The Network

Explain how Diane in the movie Network used market research to shape the network.

In the movie Network, Diane was very focused on market research and having the highest ratings possible for the Howard Bernstein Show. All of the network staff wanted to see high ratings and the highest level of success achieved. At first the show caused a lot of controversy and therefore, caused high ratings. At that point, the majority of the corporate network staff was fully behind the show and decided to keep it on air, no matter how offended the public was. The show caught on and achieved incredibly high ratings for a good period of time. At the downfall of the show, the controversy was gone because the concept of the show had been worn down and overplayed. The numbers and ratings showed that the show was beginning to see a downfall. Diane and the network then decided that the show needed to be taken off air. Instead of cancelling the show, the network decided to increase ratings once again by killing its front man, Howard Bernstein. The staff knew that this would up the ratings for that episode and would create enough controversy to become popular again - allowing the plot to change and focus on a new character.