New Television, Old Politics: The Transition to Digital TV in the United States and Britain (Communication, Society and Politics)

Digital TV offers many advantages over analog TV, but the transition process is complex and costly. This book explains how the process is unfolding in the U.S. and Britain and explores the changes in the legal framework and the industry structure associated with it. It is a unique study about the technological, political, and social factors shaping the emergence of the Information Society in the U.S. and Europe. This Book Examines The Economic, Political, And Technological Forces That Are Shaping The Future Of Broadcasting By Comparing The Transition From Analog To Digital Tv In The United States And Britain. Digital Tv Involves A Major Reordering Of The Broadcast Sector And Requires Governments To Rethink The Legal Apparatus For The Communications Industry. Through An In-depth Examination Of The Digital Tv Transition In These Two Nations, The Book Uncovers The Political And Economic Determinants Of The Emerging Governance Regime For Digital Communications And Discusses The Implications For The Development Of The Information Society In The United States And Europe. The Findings Challenge Much Of The Conventional Understanding About The Deregulation And Globalization Of Communications. Contrary To What Many Predicted, The Transition To Digital Tv Has Been A Vehicle For Reinforcing Government Control Over Broadcasting And, As A Result, It Has Reinforced Preexisting Differences In The Organization And Regulation Of Communication In Advanced Industrialized Nations.--jacket. Why Digital Tv? -- The Genesis Of Broadcast Regulation In The Us -- Hdtv Comes To America -- A New Bargain -- A Long Journey -- The European Context -- The Birth And Evolution Of Analog Tv In The United Kingdom -- Being First: The Digital Tv Race -- Murdoch-phobia? -- Digital Tv And The New Labour -- One Goal, Many Paths -- Explaining National Variations In Digital Tv Policies -- Conclusion: The Regulation Of Digital Communications And The Resilience Of National Regimes. Hernan Galperin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 289-301) And Index. "This book examines the economic, political, and technological forces that are shaping the future of broadcasting by comparing the transition from analog to digital TV in the United States and Britain. Digital TV involves a major reordering of the broadcast sector and requires governments to rethink the legal apparatus for the communications industry. Through an in-depth examination of the digital TV transition in these two nations, the book uncovers the political and economic determinants of the emerging governance regime for digital communications and discusses the implications for the development of the information society in the United States and Europe. The findings challenge much of the conventional understanding about the deregulation and globalization of communications. Contrary to what many predicted, the transition to digital TV has been a vehicle for reinforcing government control over broadcasting and, as a result, it has reinforced preexisting differences in the organization and regulation of communication in advanced industrialized nations."--BOOK JACKET This book examines the economic, political, and technological forces that are shaping the future of broadcasting in advanced industrialized nations by comparing the transition from analog to digital TV in the US and Britain. Digital TV involves a major reordering of the broadcast sector that requires governments to rethink governance tools for the digital media era. By looking at how the transition is unfolding in these nations, the book uncovers the political underpinnings of the emerging governance regime for digital communications and explores the implications of the transition for the development of the Information Society in the US and Europe. The findings challenge much conventional wisdom about media deregulation and the globalization of communications. The transition to digital TV has not weakened but rather reinforced government control over broadcasting. Moreover, contrary to what many globalization theories would predict, it has reinforced preexisting differences in the organization of media across nations.