An analysis of Saudi Arabian imported television programs in the context of traditional Islamic values and norms
Abstract
This study investigated the phenomenon of imported programs in a developing country (Saudi Arabia). This Moslem Arabic nation has traditional characteristics that distinguish it even from other Arabic Moslem nations. The Saudi imported television programs were examined in terms of the cultural values and norms manifested in their content to determine whether they were in harmony or incompatible with Saudi society.^ The sources of this study consisted of two parts. The first part was a content analysis of Saudi Arabian television programs to determine the values and norms manifested in the content of imported programs. The second part was based on interviews of those responsible for Saudi television to find out about factors that influenced the importation of television programs and measures undertaken to minimize any effect that imports might have on Saudi society. In addition, materials and documents containing governmental policies related to importation were reviewed. Three null hypotheses were tested using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The univariate F-test, means, standard deviations, and frequencies were used in reporting the results of the data analysis.^ Findings revealed that: (1) the percentage of imported programs was much higher than local programs (63% to 37% of transmission); (2) the United States was the major supplier of all imported English programs; (3) Egypt was the second major supplier of Arabic programs; (4) the quality of American and Egyptian programs influenced the decision to import large numbers of those programs; (5) a large proportion of imported dramas were oriented to adults rather than children and were from non-Arabic countries; (6) the imported programs depicted values and norms that appeared to be in conflict with traditional values and cultural norms of Saudi Arabia; (7) the manifestations of values and norms in imported programs varied according to country of origin; (8) values in Kuwaiti, Jordanian, and Syrian programs appeared to be closest to those of Saudi society, but Egyptian programs had the highest depiction of undesirable values among Arabic programs; and (9) the quality, price, and language of programs influenced decisions to import various programs, whereas popularity, personal taste, and decision makers' educational background and training abroad did not influence their decision to import certain programs. ^
Subject Area
Anthropology, Cultural|Mass Communications
Recommended Citation
Mohammedadeeb Malik Shaikh,
"An analysis of Saudi Arabian imported television programs in the context of traditional Islamic values and norms"
(January 1, 1989).
ETD Collection for Wayne State University.
Paper AAI9022450.
http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/dissertations/AAI9022450