Transnational Cable Channels in the Taiwanese Market

Abstract

From the perspective of an unbalanced flow of information and cultural (media) imperialism theory, the focus of the impact of transnational media has been on how countries that import television programming are affected. However, following the logic of capitalism and the innovation of communication technologies, the objective of transnational media conglomerates to maximize their profits has been to attract more local audiences in import countries. Therefore, instead of analysing the effect of media imperialism on host countries as most research to date has done, this study focuses on the influence of the importing countries on the domestication of cable programming of transnational cable channels. Overall, the purposes of the study are to: (1) reveal the strategy of domesticating transnational cable channels in Taiwan, (2) analyse the domestication of transnational cable channel programming and (3) evaluate the effect of their domestication mainly from the viewpoint of the Taiwanese audience.