TOKYO -- As Asia's economies crackle and people become ever more connected through technology and media, public broadcasters are struggling to fulfill their missions, under pressure from heavy-handed governments on one side and unimpressed viewers on the other.
In Japan, Thailand, India and other countries where there is a clear mandate to provide independent, quality content, public broadcasters face a balancing act. There is little agreement among viewers on what constitutes quality. And despite rhetorical commitment to independence, governments seem willing to challenge programming that does not suit their agendas.
