So what is McTV? The author of the article McTV – Understanding the Global Popularity of Television Formats defines McTelevision as “the selling of programming ideas with a track record that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate local cultures to maximize profitability.” This articles examines television formats and it’s effect on the global market. It also talks about how television is promoting interconnectivity worldwide. In which countries will take existing television programs and convert it to their own format.
America invented the television and many other countries have adopted the “American” model. But now countries have been able to penetrate the dominate US television market. Show formats like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Survivor, The Office, Ugly Betty, and Big Brother did not originate from the US. The article mentions that the “US influence is slipping” and “TV imperialism goes into reverse.” We are not only becoming a major exporter of popular television formats but an importer as well. The article goes on to mention that in the late 1980′s the US provided 71% of the total world market in television material. That number dropped to 60% in 1995. But don’t worry fellow media majors as far as revenue goes, the Hollywood studios are still on top. In 2001 the six major Hollywood studios raked in 4.5 to 5 billion, that’s more than the rest of the world combined.
I found an article online that expands on the history of US programs. “Borrowing from overseas TV formats is not exactly new, but previous examples were far more subtle or went through substantial adaptation for U.S. tastes. All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Three’s Company and Cosby all had roots overseas.” (Associated Press) Buying (and sometimes taking) formats from another country and adapting to your cultural is a just one small step for globalization in the television industry.
Citation: U.S. importing TV shows from the rest of the world
