An Examination of the Host Country Factors Affecting the Export of U.S. Video Media Goods

The United States is by far the leading exporter of video media goods in the world. It is also the biggest investor in theatrical films, spending over $63 million per theatrical production and leading the world in box-office receipts. This article investigates the host country factors that have influenced the export of U.S.-based video media products, including film and television programs. It was found that economic environment, geographical proximity, technological infrastructure, and market size influenced the purchase of motion pictures and video programming from the United States. In addition, countries with better economic environments, implementation of intellectual property rights, political rights, larger market size and cultural differences, and language similarity seemed to import more heavily broadcasting content products from the United States.     

Managing differentiation of higher education system in Japan: connecting excellence and diversity

This article presents recent reform processes in Japanese higher education, concerning the tensions emerging within the system regarding ‘excellence’ and ‘diversity’. The article particularly focuses on how Japanese universities have reacted to the recent ‘competition’ and ‘differentiation’ policy promoted by the government, drawing on recent survey results conducted with academic managers at Japanese universities. It is interesting to examine the case of Japan, a historically diversified and differentiated national system, which has been changing rapidly with recent national ‘top-down’ policy reforms, followed by more recent and new bottom-up institutional initiatives. The study shows that universities are trying to achieve excellence, fulfilling different functions at the same time, aspiring to be excellent in teaching, research and social contribution without having institutional capacity to meet these expectations. Appropriate internal governance and external mediation mechanisms need to be created at the institutional level to manage diversification of the higher education system as a whole.     

Programming Strategies of U.S.-Originated Cable Networks in Asian Markets: Descriptive Study Based on the Product Standardization and Adaptation Theory

Abstract

This multiple-case study explored television programming products offered by U.S.-originated cable networks—namely, Music Television, Cartoon Network, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, and Discovery Channel—in such Asian markets as Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan and attempted to identify factors that shape their programming strategies. On the basis of theoretical foundations concerning product standardization and adaptation in international marketing research, this study found that various external and intrafirm factors, ranging from host country's cultural and environmental characteristics to network's business orientation, are relevant to the decision on programming products by global television networks.