Adham Center News

TBS 4 Looks at the Future of Broadcasting

APRIL 1, 2000 With its Spring 2000 issue, the Adham Center’s biannual electronic journal Transnational Broadcasting Studies takes a close look at the future of broadcasting. Nearly every contributor to this issue, one way or the other, is talking about satellite-delivered Internet, webcasting, wireless services and other trends that indicate the direction of things to come.

Susan Irwin, author of “Internet Delivery Via Satellite,” talked to TBS about satellite-based Internet in a special interview. Gulf DTH/Showtime President and CEO Peter Einstein reveals that Showtime is on the verge of offering interactive services on an satellite-delivered internet platform. Jacob Arback, Managing Director of Business Research International, writes on new technologies as they relate to emerging markets and the possibilities they lend for rapid development in those regions. Contributing Editor Janet Fine reports from Mumbai that Rupert Murdoch, on a recent trip to India, announced an interest in exploring uses new technologies on the subcontinent. The reason for TBS’s interest in this area is clear: thanks to convergence and digitalization, the future is transnational.

TBS also continues with this issue its focus on specific regions and regional issues. Dolores Martos, Vice President for Latin American Sales at New Skies Satellites, discussed with TBS the impact of the Internet, especially satellite-delivered Internet, in Latin America. Specialists in Latin American broadcast studies met online to discuss regional questions such as imported versus local programming and the impact of new technologies; the transcript of this “virtual symposium” is featured in issue 4. Contributing Editor Chris Forrester reports from Dubai on the latest happenings in the growing Middle Eastern broadcasting arena, and Janet Fine in Mumbai points to the increasing globalization of Indian television.

For new readers, a comprehensive archives and index section makes all past issues available. For more information, please contact Managing Editor Sarah Sullivan at TBS@aucegypt.edu