The implications of many bites : the satellite dish in Morocco

Dissertant

BuKhars, Anuar

Thesis advisor

Amakhmakh, Naceur

Comitee Members

Samad, Daizal R.

University

Al Akhawayn University

Faculty

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

University Country

Morocco

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2000

English Abstract

Today with the spread of satellite dishes and the easy access to a considerable number of foreign channels, the audiovisual arena in Morocco has undergone the most dramatic changes of all.

The number of the channels entering the home has proliferated dramatically.

With this unprecedented expansion of television channels and the fragmentation and polarization of the Moroccan mass audience consequent upon the rapid growih in quantity and variety of the available programming, more emphasis has been placed on the need to understand the nature of television viewing patterns and program preferences. Conceptually, this study is based on the hypothesis that the public's resort to satellite dishes is a manifestation of their discontent with the national channels.

The major concern of this study is to investigate whether the public possession of satellite dishes is a form of protest against the national channels or it is merely done for the sake of diversity and acquaintance with different cultures. This research aimed at and resulted in the production of a clear picture of the average Moroccan viewers—the way they consume television product, their perception of the national channels, their evaluation of most programs they are offered, the changes they would like to see produced, and so on. The audience call for more informative television is possibly the clearest finding with the least clear interpretation, Intellectual value is much less frequently attributed to most programming in the national channels while much more frequently asked for.

There are requests for informative, tasteful, local programming - each far less frequent than the demands for entertainment, but each in greater contrast with the level attributed to the medium.

This call for more intellectual gratification does not totally undermine the informative effects of 2M as it does to TVM.

The second Moroccan channel nonetheless offers informative programming, though this offer remains below the expectations of the average Moroccan viewer. To summarize the survey results is simple: the more educated and informed the viewer, the more education and information he/she says television should provide -- to the point where this becomes the number one criticism or suggestion of the number-one educational group.

But what is remarkable is that the general request for more information and education is not only limited to the better-schooled or upper class viewer but also to the less educated, middle or lower class viewer.

It is tnie that differences do exist and that there are significant differences in taste, but not to the extent expected.

Main Subjects

Social Sciences (Multidisciplinary)

No. of Pages

110

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-591483