This book investigates the processes by which television has been elevated from a low-brow medium to a form of high-status cultural art. Authors Michael Z. Newman and Elana Levine, both scholars in media and cultural studies, examine how industry practices, critical discourse, and technological shifts have converged to redefine the value of television. They argue that this legitimation is not merely an aesthetic improvement but a strategic effort to align television with the prestige traditionally reserved for film and literature. The text provides a framework for understanding how the 'quality television' label functions as a gatekeeping mechanism within contemporary media culture.

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of media industry practices and cultural hierarchy. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous analysis of how television scholarship contributes to the medium's ongoing legitimation.