City Research Online

Abstract

The TV format business has evolved rapidly since the formation of a TV format global trading system at the turn of the millennium, but one notable feature has stayed the same: the UK has remained the world’s leading exporter. Considering that the UK used to be a net importer of (US) TV formats, it is a remarkable turn of fortune that begs two questions: what lies behind it and can the recipe be applied elsewhere? This article argues that British broadcasting policy helped build a local TV production sector that excels at export, and that this policy contains the key elements of a GVC [global value chain]-driven policy. Collecting evidence in the Middle East, Israel and South Africa, this article demonstrates the benefits of such a policy and outlines its key dimensions. Using the TV format trade as a case study, this article acknowledges that the world media system is unbalanced, but contra the cultural imperialism thesis and critical political economy theory, it argues that developing countries can take measures to build the capacity of their creative industries and, in particular, get local TV producers to participate more actively in the TV content GVC.

Publication Type:	Article
Publisher Keywords:	Broadcasting policy, economic upgrading, global television, global value chain (GVC) analysis, media and development, TV format global value chain, TV format trade
Subjects:	H Social Sciences P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs > Sociology & Criminology
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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