Television Globalization in Taiwan and Australia

Abstract

AbstractThis article makes a comparative analysis of the globalization of television broadcasting in Taiwan and Australia, with particular reference to the policy dilemmas that the introduction of new television systems has highlighted. An adaptation of Dutton and Blumler’s and Hallin and Mancini’s theoretical frameworks is used to consider three main features of television broadcasting in both countries—the scale of systems; the priority communication policies give to competing national values; and the construction of the public sphere. Several significant differences between the two countries are identified, the most notable being the greater impact of deregulation in Australia and democratization in Taiwan. In both cases, confusion over the legalisation of cable TV in Taiwan and the introduction of pay TV in Australia is indicative of the fragmentation of national broadcasting policies in a time of globalization.