With the back-to-school season also comes the beginning of the 2012-2013 television season. In the spirit of the five to six syllabi that you’ve received recently full of dates, rules and required assignments that will dictate your semester, I have put together a similar list to prepare you for the upcoming television season.

Course Description
Television is divided into two categories. The first consists of four major broadcast networks: ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. The second is the wide range of cable networks. The first produces the majority of traditional television. The networks stick to a stricter broadcast schedule although they may experiment occasionally.  They tend to produce enjoyable, though traditional, shows that can appeal to the most people. Cable has the freedom to produce a more specialized product for a niche audience. If the difference is clear, for networks, think: “Friends” or “CSI.” For cable: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” or “Game of Thrones.”

Viewing Guidelines
Try new things. With the television season coinciding with the school year, the availability of peers to watch with and the price of cable and Internet included in your tuition, college is the premiere time to be a witness to the most popular and engaging shows out there.
Required Attendance Schedule
The beginning of fall TV season brings the premiere of new shows and the return of current shows. Below are some of the more important dates for the upcoming season.

Sept. 11: NBC premieres “Go On” and “The New Normal.” “Parenthood” returns.
Sept. 16: “Boardwalk Empire” returns on HBO.
Sept. 17: “Revolution” premieres on NBC, “The Mob Doctor” on CBS and “Bones” returns on FOX.
Sept. 20: “Parks and Rec,” “The Office” and “Up All Night” return on NBC.
Sept. 24: “How I Met Your Mother” returns on CBS along with “Dancing With the Stars” and “Castle” on ABC.
Sept. 25: Both “NCIS” and “NCIS: LA” return. CBS premieres their new drama “Vegas.” Fox premieres “The Mindy Project” and brings back “The New Girl.”
Sept. 27: ABC premieres “Last Resort” and returns “Grey’s Anatomy.” CBS premieres “Elementary.”
Sept. 30: “Dexter” and “Homeland” return on Showtime (channel not available on Trinity Campus) and FOX’s “Animation Domination” lineup returns. “Once Upon a Time” returns on ABC followed by the premiere of “666 Park Avenue.”

For a full listing of available channels, visit:
http://www.trinity.edu/iraa/