Tuning In The Global Village : What They’ll Be Watching This Week

It’s hard to zap through the television channels anywhere on the planet without quickly running into an American program.

Yakut reindeer herders in Siberia tune into rebroadcasts of NBA basketball. Richard Dean Anderson, star of the U.S. action series “MacGyver,” is a hero in much of Asia, and Spanish-speaking “Los Simpsons” are a hit in South America. In some countries of Europe, U.S. programs constitute fully half the national TV fare. In fact, nearly every country on Earth would count at least one American film, situation comedy, soap opera, game show or action series among the top 10 programs broadcast within its borders in any given week.

But the rapid spread of television around the world has led to a growing diversity of programming as well.

Times staff writers, researchers and special correspondents sampled the TV fare in more than 60 countries for this special section. The selection of programs listed at right are among the most popular they found. The broadcast schedules listed are generally accurate. However, some programs appear only once every two weeks; other shows are on several nights each week, and schedules in many countries are subject to frequent and unannounced change.

* Western Europe: Privatization and satellite programming are the big stories here after decades in which most television was government-controlled. Nearly 90% of viewers tune in to satellite TV each week. It’s all led to what one German researcher calls “a wider but not necessarily better variety of entertainment.” A case in point is “Tutti Frutti,” the Italian “game show with an erotic flair.” * CIS and Eastern Europe: Television was a major propaganda tool during the Communist era, and neophyte democrats are finding it hard to relinquish their monopoly control. Low budgets mean lots of locally produced political shows with long interviews and dull commentary. But store-bought and homemade dish antennas are spreading, as are cable systems, enriching the fare with imported entertainment. * Latin America: Cable and satellite TV lags behind the United States and Canada, Western Europe, Australia and increasingly Asia. But both technologies are expanding rapidly. There is a strong national distaste in many countries for foreign programs, and the indigenous “telenovela” reigns supreme. * Asia: With 3 billion people--more than half the world’s population--Asia is seen as the most explosive growth area for global television. Half the broadcasting satellites expected to be launched in the next decade are expected to have Asian “footprints.” Asian viewers favor action dramas, and the Japanese particularly like animation, placing two cartoon shows in their top five. * Mideast: Locally produced television, which is still the only type available to most Arab households, tends to be bland, stodgy, politically correct fare. The medium is still tightly controlled in most countries, and the evening news more often than not begins with a report on the daily activities of the country’s leader. Satellite TV has come to the Gulf, however, and Israel is an exception to the regional standard. * Other: The African television market is still in its infancy, but it is expanding rapidly. Nearly every broadcast outlet is government-owned on a continent with a high rate of illiteracy, where national leaders know well that only radio and TV are truly mass media. Satellite television is changing the face of the far-flung Pacific--Vanuatu calls its new network “Our Television Station.” Canadians are sensitive about “cultural invasion” from the south, but many of their most popular programs are American.

MONDAY W. Euro. France 7:30 p.m. Wheel of Fortune (game show). Netherlands 8:25 p.m. Veronica Goes to America (travelogue): Dutch reporter travels around the United States. Belgium (Flanders) 8:30 p.m. Video Bloopers (comedy): Inadvertent pratfalls captured with home video cameras. Italy 8:40 p.m. Monday Night Movie. Movie classics. E. Euro. C.I.S. 9:00 p.m. - Novosti (news): Main evening news show in former Soviet Union. Croatia 11:00 p.m. Screen Against Screen (commentary): Comparison of foreign news coverage of ethnic war in ex-Yugoslav republics with domestic coverage. Lat. Am. Mexico 7:00 p.m. Triangle (soap opera): Upper-class family deals with illicit affairs, children out-of-wedlock, love triangles, mental illness and revenge. Chile 9:00 p.m. Always Monday (variety): Singers, comedians, contests, beauty competitions and interviews. Asia Japan 8:15 a.m. Women with Guts (soap opera): Travails of two women running a Japanese inn. China 7:00 p.m. Evening News (news): State-run view of domestic and international events. Taiwan 7:30 p.m. Kaleidoscope (variety): Celebrity guests identify origin of odd items, martial-arts experts break bricks, walk barefoot across hot coals, eat metal soda cans and tacks. Thailand 10:00 p.m. Twinkling Moon (variety): Celebrity interviews and re-enactments of celebrity’s life story. Mideast Egypt 10:00 p.m. Science & Belief (religion): Host shows how miracles of nature reflect workings of God. Egypt 11:00 p.m. Evening Taxi (variety): Visits to Cairo hot spots for the hip and famous. Other South Africa 6:30 p.m. Tely Fun Quiz (English-language game show).

TUESDAY W. Euro. Greece 6:00 p.m. The Young and the Restless (U.S. soap opera with Greek subtitles). France 6:30 p.m. Family Feud (French version of U.S. game show). Britain 7:30 p.m. Eastenders (drama): Lives of residents of London’s Albert Square. Turkey 10:00 p.m. BBC News (news): Nightly news from BBC World Service Television. E. Euro. Russia (Vladivostok) 8:00 p.m. Small Business in the U.S. (documentary): How-to series for would-be entrepreneurs. Poland 10:10 p.m. “997” (drama): Dramatic re-enactments of crimes with viewers encouraged to dial emergency “997” with any information about the crime. Lat. Am. Mexico 5:30 p.m. Carousel (children’s soap opera): Pupils in private school interact with family and friends. Colombia 8:30 p.m. The Scorpion’s Alternative (soap opera): Corrupt male owner and dedicated female director clash over content and style of TV news show. Chile 9:00 p.m. Cinema (mostly U.S. films). Argentina 9:00 p.m. Friends Are Friends (sitcom): Two young men, roommates, have complicated dealings with girlfriends and relatives. Asia Indonesia 10:00 a.m. Si Kabayan (comedy): Adventures of a rural unemployed youth. Japan 7:00 p.m. Sasae-san (cartoon). Heartwarming story of three-generation Japanese family. Indonesia 7:30 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos (U.S. comedy). Mideast Saudi Arabia 7:00 p.m. Arab serial on ancient wars and history of Arabian Peninsula. Israel 9:30 p.m. Tonight (talk show): Mix of humor and serious interviews. Other Kenya 6:30 p.m. The Jeffersons (U.S. sitcom). Canada 9:00 p.m. Roseanne (U.S. sitcom). Kenya 8:30 p.m. Professional wrestling (sports).

WEDNESDAY W. Euro. Spain 7:30 p.m. Firsthand Videos (comedy): Funny home videos from Spain and abroad. France 8:50 p.m. Sacred Evening (variety): Features guest star, usually from music or film industry. E. Euro. Croatia 6:30 p.m. Santa Barbara (U.S. soap opera). C.I.S. 7:00 p.m. The Rich Also Cry (soap opera): Mexican produced melodrama highlights convoluted lives of the beautiful Marianna and her debonair husband, Luis Alberto. Lat. Am. Colombia 8:30 p.m. Face to Face (talk show): Well-known journalist interviews controversial figures in government, entertainment and journalism.

Argentina 9:00 p.m. Big Dad (sitcom): Young widower raises three daughters with help of his maid, sister-in-law, demanding girlfriend and best friend.

Chile 9:00 p.m. Contact (newsmagazine): Reports and commentary on contemporary problems.

Brazil 10:00 p.m. You Decide (game show): Viewers presented a moral dilemma cast their votes on how to resolve it.

Asia Japan 6:00 a.m. NHK Morningwide (news): Most popular morning news show.

Indonesia 8:00 p.m. Sartika (drama): A young doctor serves the rural poor in West Java. Malaysia 8:30 p.m. Blockbuster (comedy): The antics of three aging bachelors. Hong Kong 9:00 p.m. Horse racing (sports): Live from the track. South Korea 10:00 p.m. Sunrise Hill (historical drama): Confucianism as applied in the twisted lives of four youths. Mideast Brazil 9:00 p.m. Body and Soul (soap opera): Love triangle involves woman heart-transplant patient, her boyfriend and lover of late transplant donor. Bahrain 9:00 p.m. Dallas (U.S. soap opera). C.I.S. 8:00 p.m. Theme (talk show): A Russian version of Phil Donahue engages guests and audience in political discussions. Hong Kong 11:00 p.m. City Hunter (animation): A racy, Japanese “cartoon” series about hero’s battle against evil. South Africa 7:30 p.m. Orkney Snores Not (sitcom): Afrikaans-language tale of family in dusty mining town of Orkney. Britain 7:30 p.m. Coronation St. (soap opera): Life in an English neighborhood and its favorite pub. Israel 9:00 p.m. Mabat (news). Most-viewed program on Israeli TV. Kuwait 12:00 midnight. CNN World Report (U.S. news program). Other South Africa 7:05 p.m. The Fourth Reich (miniseries): Drama based on true story of Afrikaner boxer who tried to install Nazi regime in South Africa. Kenya 8:00 p.m. The Commish (U.S. police series).

THURSDAY W. Euro. Greece 8:00 p.m. The Unacceptable (comedy): A Greek couple and two male friends, one gay, confront the absurdities of everyday life in a country throttled by austerity, strikes and bureaucracy. Italy 8:30 p.m. Telemike (game show). Spain 8:35 p.m. Rubi (soap opera): Venezuelan drama dealing with love, betrayal and manipulation. France 8:45 p.m. Lost From Sight (documentary): Stories of people who have disappeared or people being reunited. E. Euro. Croatia 7:30 p.m. Chronicle (news): Main nightly news program. Hungary 8:40 p.m. Neighbors (dramatic series). Lat. Am. Mexico 8:00 p.m. Annabel (comedy/variety): A Mexican “Saturday Night Live” featuring skits by a regular team of comedians. Colombia 8:30 p.m. The Big Door (soap opera): Drama based on life of famous Colombian bullfighter, Cesar Rincon. Argentina 9:00 p.m. It’s Ten O’Clock (sitcom): Life with an architect, an ecologist, and their three children. Chile 9:30 p.m. Special Report (newsmagazine): Reports on social problems in Chile and abroad. Asia Hong Kong 7:30 p.m. History Must Be Crazy (humor): Amusing looks at history of Hong Kong. Singapore 9:30 p.m. Crime and Passion (soap opera): Locally produced Chinese cops and robbers series. Thailand 10:00 p.m. 10 P.M. Square (variety): A Thai version of David Letterman. Mideast Egypt 10:15 p.m. Oscar (movie/talk show): Films that have won academy awards, followed by discussion sessions. Other South Africa 7:05 p.m. Kings (drama): Historical series based on Afrikaner nation’s 45-year rise to political power, in Afrikaans. Kenya 7:30 p.m. Sanford & Son (U.S. sitcom).

FRIDAY W. Euro. Greece 3:00 p.m. The Bold and the Beautiful (U.S. soap opera): With Greek subtitles. Britain 7:00 p.m. Family Fortunes (comedy/game show). Belgium (Wallonia) 8:00 p.m. Derrick (drama). German police series. Spain 9:00 p.m. One, Two, Three (game show): Quiz program for cash and prizes. E. Euro. Hungary 8:40 p.m. Dallas (U.S. soap opera). C.I.S. 9:50 p.m. Field of Miracles (game show): Russian version of Wheel of Fortune with much smaller prizes. Lat. Am. Colombia 8:00 p.m. In the Foreign Body (soap opera): Rich vs. poor in Colombia. Mexico 8:00 p.m. The Spiderweb (drama): Morality plays dealing with life’s difficult circumstances. Asia Indonesia 8:00 p.m. MacGyver (U.S. action series). Taiwan 9:30 p.m. Eight Thousand Miles, Clouds and the Moon (travelogue): A weekly visit to the land and the lore of four different mainland China locations. Hong Kong 9:50 p.m. Family Squad (sitcom): Life in a family of five. China 10:19 p.m. Tonight We Meet (game show): Matchmaking for young and old, but open to viewers as well. Mideast Egypt 2:00 p.m. Sheik Mohammed Metwaly al-Sharawy (religious): Islamic scholar interprets the Koran verse by verse. Iran 3:00 p.m. Ikyo-Sun (animation): Japanese children’s cartoon popular with Iranian adults about emperor’s son who becomes a monk. Israel 8:00 p.m. Weekly Magazine (news): The week’s news with emphasis on domestic issues. Other Canada 8:00 p.m. Street Legal (drama): Canadian version of L.A. Law about a Toronto law firm that tends to take on alternative causes.

SATURDAY W. Euro. Belgium (Flanders) 8:00 p.m. FC The Champions (comedy): Farce about a fictional, third-rate Belgian soccer team. Germany 8:15 p.m. Let’s Bet (game/variety show): Celebrity judges bet on contestants’ ability to perform extraordinary feats. If they are wrong, they try. France 8:45 p.m. Surprise Surprise (variety): Surprise guests in surprise situations. Turkey 11:40 p.m. Tutti Frutti (game show): Italian-produced adult strip show where the contestants disrobe. E. Euro. Tajikistan 9:00 p.m. The Broken Chain (commentary): Tracking developments in Tajikistan since breakup of Soviet Union. Lat. Am. Chile 4:00 p.m. Giant Saturdays (variety): Contests, singers, comedians, interviews, travelogues, legal and medical advice and interplay between audience and famous host “Don Francisco.” Colombia 8 a.m. The Simpsons (U.S. animation series) Dubbed in Spanish. Peru 8:00 p.m. Giggles and Wiggles (comedy): Slapstick skits, scantily-clad women and prizes for doing silly things. Asia Thailand 8:00 p.m. Absent-Minded Cupid (soap opera): The soul of a woman killed in an accident finds new home in body of little girl. Taiwan 8:00 p.m. MacGyver (U.S. action series). Mideast Iran 8:30 p.m. Good Behavior In The Family (religious): Dramatizations of family problems with famous cleric advising how they could have been avoided. Israel 9:00 p.m. Foreign Magazine (news): A weekly look at world events. Israel 10:00 p.m. Saturday Night (comedy): Visiting guests and satire starring one of Israel’s most popular comedians, Sefi Rivlin. Egypt 10:30 p.m. Cinema Club (movie/discussion): American and Indian films followed by analysis. Other Canada 8:00 p.m. Hockey Night (sports): Game of the week. Kenya 9:30 p.m. Sisters (U.S. drama series).

SUNDAY W. Euro. Italy 6:00 p.m. 90th Minute (sports): Round up of the weeks’ soccer action. Germany 8:15 p.m. Scene of the Crime (drama): Police series. E. Euro. Hungary 7:00 p.m. Family, Inc. (soap opera). Armenia 9:30 p.m. - “7.7.7.” (entertainment): MTV-like show featuring video clips of Armenian pop music. C.I.S. 10:00 p.m. Results (news): Analysis of week’s news events. Lat. Am. Peru 8:00 p.m. 1,001 Faces (comedy): Lowbrow comedy hosted by a well-known impersonator. Argentina 9:00 p.m. Night Rhythm (variety): Argentine and foreign singers, dancers, “candid camera” sequences, humor, stunts and gags. Asia Japan 6:00 p.m. Chibi Maruko-chan (cartoon): Life seen through the eyes of third-grader. China 6:25 p.m. Tom and Jerry (U.S. cartoon show): Dubbed in Cantonese. Taiwan 8:10 p.m. Diamond Stage (variety). South Korea 8:55 p.m. Love Without Fear (drama): Discovery he has cancer threatens romance between young musician and daughter from rich family. Mideast Egypt 8:30 p.m. The Roving Camera (documentary): Covers subjects from Japanese theme parks to a handless Chinese housewife. Iran 8:30 p.m. Sight to See (documentary): Everything from Iranian art to funny home movies and car races abroad. Other Kenya 7:40 p.m. Murphy Brown (U.S. sitcom). Canada 8:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos (U.S. comedy). Kenya 8:05 p.m. Roots, Part II (U.S. miniseries)