New Zealand is a small country in the southern hemisphere, close to the South Pole. It consists of two islands; the smaller North Island is the more populated one of the two; it also holds the capital and the largest city. In fact the country has ten times more sheep than inhabitants. It was the last place in the world to be settled by humans; it was also one of the last countries to get television. It is the democratic country with the most unregulated media policy. But globalisation even reaches into this part of the world…
Globalisation is often political. State regulation of media and popular culture is a political tool, either to fight off or to invite globalised cultural artefacts. But also the act of exporting cultural products is political. The aim of this paper is to look at the impact of globalisation on the media industry of New Zealand. It investigates the interrelation between media policy, media ownership, and media effects. Furthermore, it examines the form and content of television programs in New Zealand. This country was selected for a case study due to its unique media regulation. Moreover, its geographic, economic, and cultural peculiarities make it an interesting case for investigation. The first part of the paper provides the theoretical background for discussing the media situation in New Zealand. It introduces and briefly discusses the major perspectives on globalisation.
Table of Contents
1. The Impact of Globalisation on New Zealand Television
2. Perspectives on Globalisation
3. Television in New Zealand
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper investigates the multifaceted impact of globalisation on the media industry in New Zealand, specifically focusing on the tension between commercial interests and public service broadcasting. By analyzing the country's uniquely unregulated media environment, the study explores whether the dominance of foreign media ownership and imported programming leads to cultural homogenisation or if it fosters local, hybrid media identities.
- The influence of global communication conglomerates on media ownership in New Zealand.
- The effectiveness of the TVNZ Charter in balancing public service obligations with commercial viability.
- The prevalence and impact of imported international programming on national television schedules.
- Theoretical perspectives on globalisation, including cultural imperialism, glocalisation, and cultural hybridity.
- The role of local productions and "glocalised" content in shaping a changing national identity.
Excerpt from the Book
Television in New Zealand
Before examining the impact of globalised media products on a small Western country like New Zealand, we will look at its unique media policies. With only four million inhabitants New Zealand is a small economy with a small media industry, situated mainly in Auckland. In order to attract foreign investment, the media landscape is largely unregulated. The New Zealand media is the only liberal democracy with unrestricted foreign or cross-media ownership. In the 1980s the country transformed itself from one of the most regulated to the least regulated economy. As a result of this deregulation, the country’s press and commercial broadcasting is in the hands of five foreign media moguls: Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation (Sky TV), Izzy Asper`s CanWest Global (TV 3 & TV 4), Tony O`Reilly`s APN group (New Zealand Herald), John Fairfax (Independent Newspapers Limited), and Kerry Packer’s Australian Consolidated Press. Although there is no national newspaper, the most widely circulated regional newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, could claim this status. Due to the small size and economy of the country, there are only a few television channels: the state-owned TVNZ with TVOne and TV2; the CanWest owned TV3 and TV4; Murdoch has the monopoly for the only pay-TV channel Sky TV; Prime; and Maori Television (Cross & Henderson, 2004)
Chapter Summaries
The Impact of Globalisation on New Zealand Television: This chapter introduces the research focus and provides a geographical and political overview of New Zealand as a unique case study for analyzing media regulation and globalisation.
Perspectives on Globalisation: This chapter explores theoretical frameworks regarding media effects, including cultural imperialism, glocalisation, and cultural hybridity, and discusses the challenges of measuring the impact of media on public opinion.
Television in New Zealand: This chapter analyzes the specific media landscape of New Zealand, examining the consequences of deregulation, foreign ownership, and the role of the public service broadcaster TVNZ in the face of commercial pressures.
Keywords
Globalisation, New Zealand, Television, Media Policy, Cultural Imperialism, Glocalisation, Hybridity, Media Ownership, Commercialisation, Public Service Broadcasting, TVNZ, National Identity, Media Effects, Deregulation, Foreign Investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the impact of globalisation on the media industry in New Zealand, specifically analyzing the intersection of media policy, ownership, and the content of television programming.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the paradox of an unregulated liberal media market, the tension between commercial goals and public service mandates, and the cultural influence of imported versus domestic television content.
What is the main research objective?
The study aims to investigate whether New Zealand's media landscape has succumbed to total cultural homogenisation or if it has successfully integrated global influences through local adaptation and hybrid content.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a case study approach, drawing upon theoretical perspectives from cultural politics and sociology, as well as comparative analysis of media regulations and existing research on media effects.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the theoretical background of globalisation, a detailed description of the New Zealand media landscape, an analysis of the TVNZ Charter, and case studies of domestic versus imported television shows.
How would you describe the key terms of this research?
The research is characterized by terms such as globalisation, glocalisation, cultural hybridity, deregulation, and media ownership within the context of small-economy media systems.
How does the TVNZ Charter impact the programming?
The Charter mandates public service objectives such as maintaining editorial integrity and informing the public, yet it faces challenges due to the constant pressure to maintain commercial profitability in a small economy.
What role does "glocalisation" play in New Zealand television?
Glocalisation is observed through the creation of hybrid programs, such as "Bro'town," which adapt foreign formats to address specific local cultural issues, thereby resisting total Americanisation.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2007, The impact of globalisation on New Zealand television, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78229
