The geographical usage of television varies around the world with a number of different transmission standards in use and differing approaches by government in relation to ownership and programme content.
African networks and stations
Despite being the most economically advanced country on the continent, South Africa did not introduce TV until 1975, owing to opposition from the apartheid regime. Nigeria was one of the first countries in Africa to introduce television in 1959, followed by Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in 1961, while Zanzibar was the first in Africa to introduce colour television, in 1973. (Tanzania itself did not introduce television until 1994). The main satellite TV providers are the South African MultiChoice DStv service, and the predominantly French language Canal+ Afrique, owned by France's Canal+.
Asian networks and stations
In Asia, television has traditionally been state-controlled, although the number of commercial television channels are increasing, as its competition currently goes from streaming television. Japan's NHK is a non-commercial network similar to the BBC, funded by a television license fee. However it's editorial independence over news and current affairs are questionable especially in judicial policy, compareing the broadcasters like India's state-run Doordarshan or China's China Central Television (CCTV). In Malaysia, television was dominated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), a government-owned agency, from 1963 until 1984. From 1984, however, private television stations started emerging, with TV3 being the only private broadcaster for ten years until the introduction of MetroVision, which was operated between 1995 and 1999. Even though TV Alhijrah began broadcasting, RTM and Media Prima still controls most of the free-to-air television market. Free-to-air television in Singapore is currently monopolised by Mediacorp, with 6 channels broadcast there. From 2000 onwards, India also encouraged new private stations. Star TV, which was based in Hong Kong, expanded to other areas in Asia. The number of commercial broadcasters are indeed increasing in some countries; as of 2024, for example, Indonesia has 31 national commercial television networks compared to having just one before the introduction of RCTI.
Middle East networks and stations Similarly in the Middle East, television has been heavily state-controlled, with considerable censorship of both news coverage and entertainment, particularly that imported from the West. This control of the medium has been eroded by the increasing availability of satellite TV, and the number of satellite channels in Arabic is second only to the number of satellite channels in English, the best known of which being the Qatar-based news service Al Jazeera.
Australasian networks and stations
Australian networks and stations
Australian television began in 1956, just in time for the Melbourne Olympics. Australia has three nationwide metropolitan commercial networks (Seven, Nine and 10) as well as the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), a government owned, commercial free network; and SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) a commercial-supported, multi-lingual, government-owned station. The Australian Broadcasting Authority has also issued licenses to community groups to establish community television stations in most capital cities on LCN 44 for digital television. In regional and rural areas, numerous commercial stations are affiliated with one of the three metropolitan networks, and carry programming generally indistinguishable from their city cousins.
New Zealand networks and stations
Through the Crown entity Television New Zealand (TVNZ), the New Zealand government owns two television networks: TVNZ 1 and TVNZ 2. Both networks carry advertisements to fund their operations, although TVNZ 1 also receives government funding to provide local content under a public broadcasting charter. Three, a fully commercial network, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Another free-to-air network, Sky Open, is operated by Sky Network Television, a pay television company that also runs a digital satellite TV service. Sky Open carries programming from various sources, including Australia’s Nine Network. The government also funds Whakaata Māori, which promotes Māori language and culture on New Zealand television. In addition, a number of regional television channels operate independently throughout the country.
European networks and stations
National European networks In much of Europe, television broadcasting has historically been state dominated, rather than commercially organised, although commercial stations have grown in number recently. In most countries, the public broadcasters were the only television services available until the 1980s. These were usually funded by the state or a television license, but many countries have eventually adopted advertising in the public channels. The United Kingdom was an early adopter of private television, launching the ITV network in 1955. Italy followed in the 1970s. Most countries got commercial broadcasters in the 1980s and 1990s, either by allowing private broadcasters to broadcast terrestrially or from broadcasters located in other countries. Some countries made room for private television by closing down or selling one of the state channels. Most countries had two to six national broadcasters in the days of analogue television. Digital television has however allowed the number of terrestrial channels to multiply. Cable and satellite are also contributing to the increased number of channels, with hundreds of channels available to those willing to pay for it. Every country has a public broadcaster and about one-four dominating commercial broadcasters (excluding smaller countries where local commercial broadcasters haven't been profitable), which are listed in the table below.
The largest commercial European broadcaster is the Luxembourg-based RTL Group. Other media groups controlling European television broadcasters are ProSiebenSat.1 Media, Central European Media Enterprises and Viaplay Group.
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
