Digital Media in Asia: India and Pakistan - Mapping Digital Media Global Findings

MAJOR TRENDS 1. Commercialization Rapid economic growth has driven remarkable growth of digital media consumption. Expanding pay-TV and mobile telephony contrasts sharply with strikingly low rates of internet usage. The state has largely left the development of media technology to business. This has delayed progress towards digital switch-over. Spectrum allocation and regulation focus on pricing logic and commercial potential (maximizing government rents), not on public interest considerations and institutional independence. Aggressive commercial goals color every aspect of the new media landscape, pushing up ratings and circulations while dragging down journalistic standards and ethics. 2. Politicization Blatant corruption aside, India’s fragmented policy apparatus creates fertile ground for politicization and favoritism in decisions on resource allocation, technology choice, licensing criteria, and ownership. The nominally public broadcasters have further degenerated into government mouthpieces. 3. Pluralism India and Pakistan have traditions of robust public discourse. Digital media have multiplied the voices and audiences that can participate. Marginalized groups express their own vision online and air issues of importance to them, even though little filters through to the national conversation. Digital media make a significant contribution to political and civil campaigns. Big media companies have subsumed much of the critical blogosphere, providing platforms for leading commentators, co-opting the more independent voices.