Chinese Diaspora Media in Australia - Literature review Example

Chinese Diaspora media in Australia Name Course Tutor Date Introduction In the modern world, Diaspora connections are becoming more significant with an increasing perspective that there is a diminishing national borders importance. The increase in the connections is much attributed to the globalization process that is ongoing and leading to the growing global linkages. Some social scholars have the view that the increase of globalization process would lead to the end of the nation-state era where the borders between countries would be less important (Karim, 1998, 2). One of the factors that are promoting the globalization process is the presence of the Diaspora communities across the world. Diaspora communities are groups of people of the same origin and settled in a particular foreign country. For example, 31% of the Australian populations were born overseas, while 22% speak different languages apart from English that is the native language in Australia.             Many Chinese-Australians are immigrants from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong (Karim, 2007, 34). This group of the population represents the single largest minority in Australia taking approximately 40% of the Asian-Australian population. Interestingly, some of the Australian native communities identify themselves as having their ancestral roots in China (Price, 2010, 453). This large Chinese Immigrants in Australia are attributed to the fact that there was a gold rush in Australia during the pre-colonial era, and this made many Chinese to migrate to Australia in search for gold mines. These Early Chinese immigrants established several Chinatowns in major cities in Australia for instance Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane (Sheng, 2007, 629). "These people worked as shopkeepers and market gardeners and indentured laborers in the Native farms. During these early years, they faced problems such as cultural transition difficultness, racial discrimination and even language barriers (Karim, 2007, 42).              However, with time, Chinese-Australian group has evolved   from being mere indentured workers to be the most established immigrant ethnic community in Australia (Castells, 2004, 43). Most of these Chinese immigrants record high levels of academic achievements with a high degree of educational and socio-economic attainment. As per the moment, the Chinese Australian is among the well-educated communities in Australia (Thussu, 2010, 11).   This implies that the modern world population is more integrated than before, and this integration is even growing bigger.             The global migration trends have formed of transnational groups that are related by culture, language, religion and ethnicity. Members of these Diaspora communities have run some small media such as newspapers, magazines television programs to inform, entertain and meet the preferences of their communities in this foreign soil other than the local communities (Sun, 2010, 127).  However, the emergence of digital technologies is enabling these Diaspora communities to receive news and other forms of entertainment directly from their home countries. Some nations had restrictions on the national broadcasts, but with time, this obstacle has been overcome by the advent of the direct broadcasting satellites (Karim, 1998, 3) People can now watch home news and entertainment through the satellite media while they are far away from home. The increase in the connections is much attributed to the globalization process that is ongoing and leading to the growing global linkages. Some social scholars have the view that the increase of globalization process would lead to the end of the nation-state era where the borders between countries would be less important (Karim, 1998, 2). One factor that is promoting the globalization process is the presence of the Diaspora communities across the world. Diaspora communities are groups of people of the same origin and settled in a particular foreign country. For example, 31% of the Australian populations were born overseas, while 22% speak different languages apart from English that is the native language in Australia (Edwards, 2013, 106).             One of the biggest Diaspora communities in Australia is the Chinese community (Shi, 2005).  Australia has many immigrants of Chinese origin and they live in specific regions. This community normally uses Chinese media to get the news and entertainment as well. This paper focuses on Television broadcast Australia (TVB) as one of the Diaspora ethnic media that is much watched by the Chinese people who live in Australia. The paper would discuss the sociological, economical, cultural and political impact of this TV channel to these Chinese-Australian people.  Television broadcast Australia (TVBA)             Television broadcast Australia is the largest Chinese-Vietnamese television network in Australia. This Television platform has been in operation in Australia since the year 2000. As per the moment, this Television serves over 130,000 Chinese and Vietnamese viewers on daily basis and over 20,000 households switch to this TV daily (Sheng, 2007, 632). TVB is the most reached Chinese and Vietnamese media in Australia. TVB has it’s headquarter in Hong Kong China and wholly owned by Television broadcast Ltd. This Television platform is the famous and largest producer of the Asian related dramas that are distributed in countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, China and Singapore (Sheng, 2007, 637). Television broadcast Australia (TVBA) transmits several Chinese language TV programs that are common to the Diaspora Chinese (Castells, 2004, 43).  It owns the copyright of all the productions worldwide.TVB transmits its programs through the Australian branch by the use of the satellites platform. Its programs and activities are specifically designed in a Chinese oriented style. It provides viewers a chance to choose from their selected programs from the many popular radio stations offering its audiences with convenience (Thussu, 2010, 56).  This combination of a variety programs ensures that people have at least something that they prefer to watch.             TVBA was launched in NSW of Australia in the year 2000. After ten years of operation, it was considered to be the best foreign television entertainment producer and the most common satellite television platform that has Chinese channels in Australia (Shi, 2005, 57).  This television has become the most influential institution to the Chinese communities who live in Australia either as students, traders, immigrants and tourists (Thussu, 2010, 22).   The target market for TVBA are two, first there is a general market where the television provides information to all Chinese, who lives in Australia. In this market, the main competitors include CNN, Sydney TV (Chinese channel), CCTV and BBC (Cheok, Hing, & Lee, 2013, 32). TVBA aims to broadcast to expand its audience and boost the market share. The second target market for TVBA lies in the ethnic business community where this television obtains its advertisements in addition to other business opportunities. The impact of TVBA as ethnic Diaspora media in Australia Promotion of culture             TVBA as mentioned earlier broadcasts a variety of programs in Australia. These programs are designed to suit the preferences of every viewer. These programs have specific roles they play in the Diaspora Chinese communities. The role this television play is the promotion and teaching of Chinese culture among the Diaspora Chinese people (Castells, 2004, 77). Through this TV platform, some programs have content that describe the China’s history. Such programs are aimed to teach the young Chinese generation of their history and origin so that they cannot be overwhelmed by the foreign culture and teachings. Every community around the world prefers to teach its young generations their origin for them to know their identity and to belong (Karim, 2007, 62).  Given the Australian population is composed of a considerable percentage of the people who have their origin in China, they would want to identify their origin. Thus, TVBA is the best agent that is doing this work of teaching the young ones about the ancestral land so that they can transfer this knowledge to even the future generation (Shi, 2005, 63).   Teaching people about their history and origin are one way of promoting a culture; therefore, TVBA is making major impacts, and it has made many Chinese-Australians know their origin and to find their identity.             The second way in which TVBA is promoting a culture among its people who live in Australia is through teaching them food programs that are found in the mainland China. Every community has its food; food eaten by a particular community is part of the culture of the same community (Cunningham & Flew, 2000).  China is the most populous nation all over the world. This means that it is rich in culture; there is a variety of food that the Chinese eat, and these foods are cooked in particular styles (Karim, 2007, 19).  The Chinese in the Diaspora are taught the processes involved in cooking particular meals to resemble those that are cooked at home (Shi, 2005, 58).  Cooking styles is part of the culture in any community. TVBA has programs that mainly teach the types of foods and the cooking styles that should be adopted in order for this food can be exhibits the Chinese styles (Sun, W. 2010, 129).  The television also advice through these programs the audiences to visit Chinese restaurants found in Australian cities so that they can enjoy the Chinese meals.             Drama programs are other platforms through which TVBA teach the Chinese-Australian their culture. These dramas are full of the Chinese elements including Chinese speaking dialogues, popular TVB stars, Chinese familiar geographical features and many cultural practices practiced by the Chinese in the mainland (Edwards, 2013, 107). The significance of these drama and movie programs in Chinese language and origin help the audience to meet their language needs, relieve them from worry, isolation, loneliness by the Diaspora life and also remind them of the sweet memories while they were still in mainland (Cheok, Hing, & Lee, 2013, 34). All these help them to stick and appreciate their cultural practices even if they live in a foreign land. Promotion of economy             TVBA plays a pivotal role in the promotion of economic status of the viewers and that of China as well. As a business norm, TVBA full utilize every opportunity to broadcast advertisements to the audience. It provides the marketing opportunities for Chinese-Australians that are found at home (Cunningham & Flew, 2000, 211). Therefore, these people who stay in Diaspora can go back at home and venture into particular lucrative businesses. The Diaspora investors in the mainland China has increased after the advent of TVBA channel. Most of them watched the advertisements and identified the fertile industries that they can invest their money. Thus, TVBA has greatly boosted the investment patterns for those living in Australia, it has encouraged them to come and invest at home (Shi, 2005, 71).               Moreover, this television has helped these Chinese-Australians to explore investments opportunities available in Australia. The TV has helped them with important information concerning the market environment in both Australian and China (Sheng, 2007, 643). This television network has boosted trade among these two nations where the traders in the mainland and the Diaspora Australia find opportunities to do their businesses. The traders have found opportunities in Australia at the same time the traders in the Diaspora finding opportunities at home (Price, 2010).              The most popular economic programs this TVBA network broadcast are the “Shanghai world Expo” and the “Eating in China”.  The first program aimed praising the Shanghai City to the entire glob from different parts can have a desire to come and explore the greatness of Shanghai through tourism (Karim, 2007, 84).  The second program, focused on promoting the Chinese diet and even the Chinese food companies around the world. All these programs were aired on Australian air so that the native Australians and the Chinese-Australians can act on them. These programs boosted the China’s economy and those of the Diaspora people (Cheok, Hing, & Lee, 2013, 11). The aggressive advertisements composed on the adverts that promoted the tourist's sites in China. Therefore, those Chinese-Australians who have stayed for long without going back to China or those that were born in Australia were informed on the best modern sites they can visits when they come to the mainland.             Through its various development, TVBA has played three significant role economic wise. First, it has enhanced market penetration. The advertisements that this channel airs out has strengthened and promoted the current programs mainly the competitive products such as dramas, and videos (Cunningham & Flew, 2000, 213). It has done this through the recruitment of specialized- training personnel for the whole process of promotion and designed. Therefore, it is easy for the traders and companies such as food companies to penetrate both the Australia and China’s market because they access first hand information concerning the market conditions (Price, 2010, pp456).             Secondly, TVBA has helped in product development. As more Chinese-Australians audience pay attention to the news and programs broadcasted by TVBA, this Television channel has kept a close eye on the peoples’ preferences basing on their life-style in this foreign land. It now organizes large-scale community sports activities and arts to enhance market reputation (Shi, 2005, 68).   More and more products are innovated and developed resulting to a variety of products that suits both the Chinese-Australians and even the native Australians. Therefore, TVBA is playing a big role in improving the Chinese products and developing more products that appeal to all communities that live in Australia (Sun, 2010, 127).              Thirdly, TVBA has promoted the economic status of the viewers through market development. The main purpose of advertisement and broadcasting is to meet many viewers so that they can be aware that certain products exist (Karim, 2007, 65). Thus, many adverts that are aired on TVBA channel develop and open new markets for the Chinese-Australians traders in Australia and even back in China. Television advertisement has aided to reach those places that were not accessible and now the traders can now serve customers to such places. Promotion of social relation             A television channel is an informative and entertainment instrument thus; it plays a role in socialization of people. TVBA channel has played a big role in displaying promoting social matter since its inception in Australia (Sheng, 2007,  646).  First, it offers different kinds of social programs such as TVB drama, TVB sports, TVB kids, TVB shows and many more interesting programs that are aimed to boost socialization of the people within the society. When people watch these movies and dramas, they share a lot and think in the same realms (Karim, 2007,  47).  This brings in a sense of identity and belonging; moreover, when the Diaspora Chinese watch these programs, they are linked with their brothers and sisters in the mainland China (Edwards, 2013, 110). It is because the shows and dramas show is all about the things that happen at home and hence they also participate in the issue that affects China (Castells, 2004,  84). The news broadcasted in this channel enables the Diaspora people to know the both the economic and political; status of their home country. They can comment and even give opinions over certain contemporary issues happening in China.             People listen to the news, and they even participate in certain social forums through airing out their views over some political or social issues affecting China while they are away. Therefore, TVBA has been an important window where the people, in Diaspora Australia can socialize and share different issues of their home country (Cunningham & Flew, 2000, 217).  Different new sports developed by this Television channel and have Chinese elements tend to bring together all the people of Chinese ancestry (Cheok, Hing, & Lee, 2013, 32). Sports such as karate, tae-Kwando, tag of war, horse race and many more tend to remind the older Chinese generation in the Diaspora of the sweetness of the traditional Chinese games. They also teach the young Diaspora Chinese generation about their ancestral games (Castells, 2004, 117).  Different dramas broadcasted in this channel enable the young Diaspora generation, adopt the Chinese styles, and they also apply these styles to create other dramas that have Chinese elements (Karim, 2007, 66). All these games bring them together and share more ideas. Thus, TVBA is promoting the socialization of the Chinese who live in Australia and even other communities by offering a variety of social platforms. Factors that enabled TVBA to succeed in Australia             Not all foreign business firms can succeed in the foreign soil, some fail terribly because of the prevailing conditions are different from those at home. However, for TVBA to succeed to and take roots in the Australian market, a number of factors existed (Sun, W. 2010, 130).  First, TVBA managed to flourish with few years in Australia because of the long-term friendly cooperation between China and Australia (Karim, 2007, 32).  Before TVB decided to diversify to Australia, there existed a long-term political relation among the two countries; this presented more business opportunities for TVBA. It is obvious that when the countries have a good relationship, they do business with fewer struggles and hurdles (Shi, 2005, 59).  Thus, TVBA enjoyed this privilege because of the peace and friendly atmosphere that prevailed. Many people welcomed this channels both the Chinese-Australian and the native Australia because even some of them have Chinese ancestry origin.              The second factor that enabled the TVBA to become famous in Australia is because the trend of the television is meant for a life guide. Televisions choose intimate styles and give more life related information to the audience (Cunningham & Flew, 2000, 215). The fact that this media is a television had the advantage of organizing large scale community forums in arts and sporting activities where many people could come and enjoy. People watch to be entertained and informed (Sheng, 2007, 640). TVBA offered Chinese stuff that were more appealing to the people in the Diaspora this made them shift fast from the native channels to this home-grown channel.             Being Market focused is another reason that has enabled this TVBA to penetrate Australian market so easily. TVBA main targets the Chinese immigrants living in Australasia. It understood that such people are influenced by the problem of homesick and boring Diaspora environment (Karim, 2007, 34). Therefore, the channel concentrated on developing programs that have more of Chinese elements such as Chinese language and sports to make these people feel at home (Thussu, 2010, 89).  Thus, many people welcomed the programs hence; the channel had many viewers within the shortest time.             TVBA in this foreign land was the increasing number of immigrants into Australia. China consists of the highest population within the entire glob; therefore, many people are moving out to other countries either for education purposes or tourists (Cheok, Hing, & Lee, 2013, 53).It provided with this television network in Australia a ready market. More audience who were immigrants from China and other neighboring nations such as Taiwan and Singapore listen and watch a television channel that offers stuffs that suit them other than what the native channels (Price, 2010, 45).             As mentioned earlier, TVBA was established in early twenty-first century (Thussu, 2010, 91).  At this time, the China’s economy was becoming more stable. Hence, the there were enough resources to develop and manage this broadcasting platform in a foreign land (Karim, 2007, 35).  The availability of resources enabled the firm to develop ambitious programs that aimed to boost the performance of this firm in the foreign. Indeed, after barely a decade in 2010, TVBA became the moist famous foreign television channels watched by majority of the Australian population (Cunningham & Flew, 2000, 210).  It was the only channels that offered many programs of Chinese origins hence liked by the Diaspora communities such as the Chinese-Australians, Singaporeans, Taiwanese, New Zealanders and many other communities who lived in Australia. The Competitor/threats to TVBA             The fact that TVBA is an icon in the broadcasting industry both China and Australia, it does not mean that it does not encounter challenges. Some of the threats that face this firm especially in Australian market include first, the stiff competition from the native and international broadcasters (Thussu, 2010, 56). The Australian market is saturated with the local and international broadcasting channels. Therefore, the viewers have got so many options thus; they choose what they like to watch in any television channel (Shi, 2005, 59).  This implies that for TVBA to have a big share of this market, it must up its game. The second threat is that there is a low-level of localization. This television air few programs that have pure Chinese language; other programs are in English but with some Chinese elements (Karim, 2007, 76). To capture the Chinese population well in this foreign land, TVBA must make sure that most of its programs are designed in Chinese language hence, large market share.             Another factor that may be a threat to TVBA in Australia is when there would be a negative influence on the global economy (Cunningham & Flew, 2000, 219). The economic crisis tends to affect all business firms because of the high costs of production. This is a subsidiary company established in a foreign land. Thus, in case of an economic downturn; it would be affected badly because most of the sponsors would withdraw their sponsorship due to the turf economic situations (Karim, 2007, 132). The costs of broadcasting may go up. Another threat that faces this channel is the shifting preferences of the users. People nowadays read the news from the internet other than watching on television (Sun, W. 2010, 128).  People opt to read the news from the internet because they would be able to read the whole stories in lengths other than listening to news briefs from the television. Others purchase newspapers to access full information. Therefore, the television purpose is now reducing to entertainment. Conclusion             This paper focused on the how TVBA a Diaspora ethnic media has affected the lives of the Chinese people who live in Australia. It has shown how people in the Diaspora respond to the home stuffs. From the discussion, we have found TVBA has transformed the lives of the Chinese-Australians economically, socially and culturally. The success factors that enabled this television channel to succeed in this foreign have been discussed. Moreover, the paper has shown some of the threats this firm is encountering as it carried out its operations in Australia. Nowadays, the Diaspora connections have increased greatly enabling people in other countries to communicate and make linkages with their relatives in their home countries. Media such as television, radios and internet are bridging this gap making the world become like a small village where one can easily get the information he wants within the shortest time possible. The future world possibly is going to be more integrated due to the new digital technologies that are being invented. References list Castells, M. (2004). The network society: A cross-cultural perspective. Cheltenham, UK; Edward Elgar Publishing. 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Market analysis for TVBA. Retrieved from http://www.youzhilunwen.com/lxlw/yylw/scyx/20140124/4925_3.html   Read More