Tuning In The Global Village : Where on Earth Are the TVs?

Today, more than a billion TV sets dot the planet. The advanced world claims the lion’s share, but the Third World is quickly catching up. Countries also vary widely in how much--and what--they broadcast. SH: What Viewers See Here’s how selected nations use the airwaves: annual broadcast hours and types of shows, by percentage. 1) Total annual broadcasting hours (in 1989, except where noted) 2) Percentage devoted to: a. News programs b. Educational, cultural, religious c. Advertisements d. Entertainment e. Unclassified

Country Total News Educ Entertain Ads Unclass ZIMBABWE 5,617 37.3 7.4 43.5 3.6 8.2 CANADA 881,703 29.8 13.7 56.4 0.1 CUBA 11,091 25.9 8.7 54.9 6.3 4.0 MEXICO 2,903,575 10.2 5.3 74.2 6.9 3.5 ARGENTINA 161,654 33.7 11.1 55.2 00 00 BOLIVIA 11,888 16.9 8.7 64.3 10.1 00 COLOMBIA 11,335 16.3 23.6 56.9 00 3.2 INDIA 6,201 32.1 20.7 44.1 1.6 1.5 POLAND 10,676 40.8 18.4 35.3 3.2 2.4 PORTUGAL 19,800 16.7 2.6 70.8 2.1 7.9 SWEDEN 6,509 26.1 21.6 50.3 00 2.0 FORMER SOVIET 64,543 33.9 5.8 49.5 6.8 3.9

* Advertisments are not identified separately. ** Figures from 1990.

Explosive Growth, 1965-1990: Receivers in Use (millions)

Area 1965 1990 Europe & CIS 73.4 352.9 N. America, Caribbean, excluding Mexico 73.1 203.5 Latin America, including Mexico 7.4 83.8 Asia 18.8 316.1 Arab World, including North Africa 1.3 36.1 Africa, excluding North Africa 0.1 18.1 Australia, Pacific Islands 3.2 9.7

* Estimated by United States Information Agency.Sources: UNESCO, BBC World Service.