New Television, Globalisation, and the East Asian Cultural Imagination

Challenging assumptions that have underpinned critiques of globalisation and combining cultural theory with media industry analysis, Keane, Fung and Moran give a groundbreaking account of the evolution of television in the post-broadcasting era, and how programming ideas are creatively redeveloped and franchised in East Asia. In this first comprehensive study of television program adaptation across cultures, the authors argue that adaptation, transfer, and recycling of content are multiplying to the point of marginalising other economic and cultural practices. They also show that significant re-modelling of local TV production practices occur when adaptation is genuinely responsive to local values. Examples of East Asian format adaptations include Survivor, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, The Weakest Link, Coronation Street, and Idol.

Michael Keane is a Centre Fellow within the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Creative Industries and Innovation at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Anthony Y. H. Fung is an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Albert Moran is Professor in the School of Arts, Media and Culture at Griffith University, Australia.

“Based on extensive fieldwork, New Television offers a brilliant analysis of the globalization of East Asian TV industries. It’s a must read for anyone who cares about the world’s biggest television Market.” —Michael Curtin, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies and Director of Global Studies, Department of Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“This dynamic new contribution to television studies rejects both leftist and protectionist critiques of international media exchange, plumping instead for an empirically rich analysis that identifies producers and audiences as key players who operate through the logic of supply and demand. Innovative, highly detailed, and well-written, it presents a real challenge to those who operate within just one or two language groups or world regions.” —Toby Miller, Professor of English, Sociology, and Women’s Studies, University of California, Riverside

“This clear and compelling book takes the reader through the phenomenon of television in East Asia, arguing that the power of local spectatorship and the excitement of domesticated creativity are strong factors in the world of fast moving content creation, fragmented providers and global formats. The excellent team of Keane, Fung and Moran has written a good text for students and a persuasive one for more senior scholars.” —Stephanie Hemelryk Donald, Professor of International Studies, University of Technology, Sydney