Foreign Television Programs in China Types, Cultural Modifications, Cultural Proximity

Since the Reform and Opening-Up Policy in 1978 the Chinese television market has been gradually opened up to foreign media companies. The demand for foreign television programs has increased greatly, especially for feature films, television series, documentaries, sports programs, and music programs. This study answered three questions: (1) What kinds of foreign TV programs are broadcast in China? (2) What kinds of cultural modification must be made? (3) How similar are the cultures between the exporting country and China as an importing country? The study selected and analyzed the television schedules from a total of 37 television channels from eight television broadcasters in five sample cities. Based on the answers to these questions, an overview can be made of the supplied foreign television programs in China.