Reality TV in AsiaCensorship, Ownership, Legislation.

Diana Tjoa, Nelson Chang, Renee Harianty, Shereen Tan, Tristan Lai

Malaysia

Q: What do you think of Malaysia’s media censorship? Why?

A: Malaysia’s media is regulated by several factors. There arelimitations imposed from the executive level down but mostaccredited/recognized news agencies also practice some form ofself-censorship.

The reason being the media, has outgrew it’s romantic form of “voice to the people”, but is currently run as a business where revenue and profit takes precedence. Censorship is practiced in fear of offending the executive, where in Malaysia has a direct hand in business opportunities, and also at the same time not to put off readers enough for them to stop subscribing to the media, which has a negative impact in terms of circulation/sales/revenue/profit.Censorship is practiced to not offend one end of the spectrum and to take the “middle path”, in doing so, the prospects of “good business” would be ensured.

Q: In terms of TV media, are their restrictions similar or less to that of the print media? Why?

A: TV media and print media, although both media institutes, convey messages on different platforms.Print media is a mere recollection of events written in words. How the language and sentence structure are established and interpreted are up to the readers to decide.

TV media allows more “unwritten” or “subliminal” messages to becommunicated. Irresponsible video editing can also amplify thestrength of a certain message.The restrictions are similar in the sense they are both profitorientated, but the methods of censorship are entirely differentalthough similar in ideology.

Roy, New Straits Times journalist in Malaysia

Code of Ethics

Women from The Biggest Loser Asia

Code of Ethics (Dresscode)

• Women must be covered from neckline to below the knees

• Swimming trunks for men and women can only be seen from scenes involving sporting or athletic events

NameweeWee Meng Chee

• A parody of Malaysian National Anthem & criticized the Malaysian Government

•Sedition Act 1948 and the National Anthem Act 1965

• Made a public apology and forgiven by the Prime Minister of Malaysia

• He was heavily criticized by the public.

Namewee’s Video

• Islam is the official religion of Malaysia

• Restrict on the distribution of books, TV shows etc.

* Except in Eastern Malaysia

• Muslims are governed by a Sharia law

Religion in Malaysia

• Influences from the West

• Intimate physical contact and Nudity * Dress codes: women are required to cover all of their

bodies except hands and face.

* Men and women are not to be viewed as sexual objects

* Pre-martial sex is prohibited in Islam law (Glorious Quran 24:1-3)

• Different attitudes between the East and West

* “How to look good naked” & “Big Brother” are banned

Religion & Media

Successful Reality Genre: Talent shows

“Malaysian Idol”

•Popular music is a identity marker•Did not touch on the religious issues•The West influences the East

• is the largest Muslim population of any country in the world.

• Reality TV shows respect to the religious aspects of the country.

Indonesia

Suharto(1967-1988)

- 2nd president of Indonesia- Passed away in 2008

“Televisi Republik Indonesia”

• First TV station• Role: Inform the public

about government politics

(Television of Indonesia)

Suharto

(Son)

(Daughter)

Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana

(Cousin)

(Frie

nd)

(Politics)

Liem Sioe Liong

Sudwikatmono Bambang Trihatmodio

Dudi Hendrakusuma

“Fate Swap”

• Swapping houses between a rich family and a poor family.• Lasts for 3 days.

Wife Swap (UK)• Swapping of wives/mothers and sometimes husbands.• Lasts for 2 weeks• In the 1st week, swapped wives has to adhere to the original wives house rules.• In the 2nd week, swapped wives make their own rules for the family. Hijab or headscarf

Makin Malam Makin Mantap (4M)It gets better later in the night

-Violate the official broadcasting standards (Standar Program Siaran [SPS]) of Indonesia.- Article 11, 13, 17, 19 part 3, 23 part 1 and 3.

Article 11:Host has to be polite and not go out-of-line on screen.Host has to be careful in the sense that the content of the show does not give a negative effect of the characters of the show.

Article 13:Host are prohibited to use swear words that insults the human kind, consists of vulgar and crude words as well as offending religions.Vulgar words and swear words, regardless of language, are forbidden to be included verbally or non-verbally.

Article 17:Content of programs must observe, empower and protect the interests of children, adolescents and women.

Article 19:Hosts are prohibited from having conversations, scenes, or animations that describe the range of activities towards sex.

Article 23:Programs containing conversations or discussions about sexual issues should be presented in a polite, carefully and scientifically.The host is responsible for ensuring that such events do not become an arenanasty talk.

Suster Hepi(Happy Nurse)

- Provocative- Sexual jokes- Flirtatious with the opposite sex

Taiwan

Interview with Tania Lewis about Taiwan Politics

KMT: Nationalist partyOriginally founded in China in 1894 and moved to Taiwan in 1945Political view: Believes that most of the Taiwanese were originally from China so Taiwan should accept its friendly neighbor China and build up a good relationship with it.

DDP: Democratic Progressives PartyFounded in Taiwan in 1986Political view: Believes that Taiwanese people have their own culture and language and races, and Taiwan is never a part of China but and independent country.

Main TV channels and Political Parties

KMT: Nationalist Party

KMT: Nationalist Party

Associated to

Associated to

Associated to

KMT: Nationalist Party

DPP:Democratic ProgressiveParty

Associated to

Government Ownership

Changes of Taiwan policies on China

Chen Shui- BianFormer President from2000~2008

Ma Ying-JeouCurrent President from2008

No China,Nothing from China!

Built up cross-strait

relationship and

signed financial

agreements with

China

One million Star

KMT: Nationalist Party

One Million Star before the political changes

• The first season started showing from 5th Jan, 2007 to 13th July 2007, all the competitors were from native Taiwan and ¼ of the competitors come from aboriginal background.• Second season: shown from 20th July 2007 to 25th of Jan 2008, the content remains the same as the first season besides the 10 finalists, where half of the competitors come from aboriginal background. This season hit the highest view ratings among all seasons by 5.35 in total.

One million star after the political changes

• Foreign competitors entered the show since the third season, (shown from 1st Feb, 2008 to 22nd, August 2008) they come from around the world, eg, Malaysia, America, Australia, Singapore…• Mainland Chinese competitors entered the show since Season 5 in April 2009• In season 7, shown in August 2010, among the 10 finalists, 5 finalists from are from China, 2 from Malaysia, 1 from Australia, 1 from America and only 1 from local Taiwan, and the winner of that season was a Malaysian.

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