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East Asia
China
The world’s 4th largest country, with a population
of 1,284,303,705. Head of State: President Hu
Jintao, elected in March 2003. There are 400
million television sets, according to some
statistics, and 215 million radio receivers. The
media is state-controlled. Television is believed
to be the most popular source for news in the
country and the number of television viewers is
well over 1 billion people. China continues to
block broadcasts from overseas, particularly those
from the BBC, VoA and RFA but has issued
“landing rights” for certain international
television channels, but distribution is generally
limited to compounds for foreigners, embassies
and hotels. Pay Television is being introduced
and some forecasts suggest over 100 million
subscribers by 2010.
Key media organisations
China Radio International, beaming programmes
in 38 languages worldwide.
State Administration of Radio, Film and Television
No. 2 Fuxingmenwai Street, Xicheng District,
Beijing, 100866
T +86 10 6609-3114
Japan
Population 126,974,628 and a GDP of US$3,550
billion. Japan’s society is built on tradition, with
a slow change to a more modern outlook with
job mobility. More than 75% of the population
lives in urban areas. Head of State: Emperor
Akihito. Prime Minister: Junichiro Koizumi,
elected in April 2001. There are an estimated 60
million television sets in the country, and 100
million radio receivers.
Key media organisations
NHK, the state broadcaster, providing radio and
television services nationwide, plus an external
service with radio broadcasts in 22 languages
and Japanese broadcasts on television (some
with subtitling in English).
Mongolia
Landlocked country with a population of around
2.7 million. Estimates suggest that there are fewer
than 150,000 television sets in the country and
perhaps 300,000 radio sets. The media has been
liberalised and there is now privately owned
television operating, with some relays of CNN in
Ulan Bator, the capital.
The Voice of Mongolia is the country’s external
broadcaster, operating in Chinese, English,
Japanese, Mongolian and Russian.
North Korea
Population around 22 million. The country is a
member of the US-branded “axis of evil”, led by
the reportedly eccentric Kim Jong-il.
Broadcasting is restricted to state-controlled
media and all television and radio receivers are
pre-tuned to government channels. This makes
it difficult for people in North Korea to tune to
broadcasts from overseas.
South Korea
Population 48,324,000 and a GDP of US$931
billion. Multiparty politics were introduced in
1987 after four decades of authoritarian rule.
Television is the preferred medium for South
Koreans although the figures for TV sets of an
estimated 16 million and radio sets at 42 million
suggest a different emphasis. The state
broadcaster, Korean Broadcasting System,
operates television and radio, but there is
considerable competition from commercial
channels and international services via cable and
digital satellite. KBS operates an international
radio service in ten languages.
Taiwan
An island State off the coast of mainland China.
President: Chen Shui-bian. Prime Minister: Yu Shyi-
kun. The population of 22.5 million generates a
GDP of US$386 billion, with much manufacturing
of goods that are sold throughout the west,
notably consumer electronics. The gentle thaw
in relations with China, and Chinese pragmatism,
means that Taiwanese companies now operate
factories on the mainland to maintain their
competitive pricing. There are around 13 million
television sets and 9 million radio sets in use
and the media environment is one of the most
free in the region. Television viewing is high,
and there is competition although television
companies are owned by the ruling Nationalist
party, the military and local government.
South Asia
Bangladesh
Population around 133.4 million, GDP around
US$230 billion. Prime Minister: Khaleda Zia. The
media is principally government-controlled. BBC
World Service secured an FM relay in the capital,
Dhaka, some years ago.
Bhutan
Population 2.2 million. Head of State: King Jigme
Singye Wangchuk. Radio was launched in 1973 and
television began only in 1999, both under the control
of the state-owned Bhutan Broadcasting Service.
India
Population around 1 billion. President: APJ
Abdul Kalam. Prime Minister: Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Television viewing has increased enormously in
the last ten years, reducing radio audiences. It is
estimated that there are around 111 million radio
receivers and 63 million television sets, but in
all likelihood these numbers are understated.
Media has been state-controlled, and in some
instances this continues – for example, despite
the deregulation of radio broadcasting, only All
India Radio is permitted to broadcast news on
its channels. Cable viewing is important, with
many thousands of private cable operators (see
Global Brief in this issue of The Channel). All
India Radio broadcasts internationally.
Nepal
Population: 25 million. Head of State: King Gyanendra
Bir Bikram Shah Dev. Broadcasting came late to Nepal
– radio was introduced in 1951 and television in
1986. Television’s development is hampered by the
lack of mains electricity – it is believe that only 14%
of the population has mains power.
Pakistan
Population: 153 million. President: General Pervez
Musharraf. There is an ongoing liberalisation of
the media, notably broadcasting, with private
television and radio licenses issued. Cable
television is important and, like India, local illegal
operators supply parts of towns and villages. Radio
Pakistan is the country’s international service.
Sri Lanka
Population: 19 million. President: Chandrika
Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga. State-run Sri Lanka
Broadcasting Corporation provides television and
radio, but there are commercial competitors
across both media.
Asia Regional Briefing
Asia covers a vast swathe of the planet - around a third
of the earth’s surface, in fact - and has a growing
population that’s around 3.3 billion at the moment. The
region presents enormous opportunity and tremendous
challenge to the world’s international broadcasters and
as deregulation occurs, the pickings are, in all likelihood,
going to get far, far richer. As an introduction to our
Asia features, here’s some intelligence about the countries
that make up this diverse part of the globe.
People’s Square, Ulan Bator
