New digital realities and old public service broadcasting models – the case of public access and participation in Singapore’s televisual landscape

Abstract

Does public service broadcasting (PSB), with its 20th-century state-controlled and state-funded structure, still have a role to play in increasing access, public participation and a strong national media system in today’s globalising East Asia? This article, by taking Singapore as a case study, examines why and how traditional PSB media players have been forced to change their institutional and transactional responses to the ‘shocks’ of digitisation. In particular, it examines how the rise of Web 2.0, with its de-territorialised media services and social media, challenges PSB’s relevance as trends towards universal access, a greater participatory culture and active audiences render PSB content increasingly anachronistic.

Keywords

East Asian pop culture free-to-air TV IMDA MediaCorp Singapore The Little Nyonya PSB crisis PSM public service broadcasting Singapore Web 2.0

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