Document Type
Book Chapter
Abstract
From time to time certain television shows 'stop the nation'. In 2002 the localized version of the Celador licensed format Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? glued over a third of Indonesian television households to their screens at 7pm on Saturday nights. Is it the vicarious thrill of winning undreamed-of riches in a country which has been the slowest to recover from the Asian economic crisis of 1997 that attracts the audience? Circuses without bread? Perhaps, but this phenomenon is probably not profoundly related to local matters. We need look no further than the thin, phosphor coated screen. Millionaire, as it is referred to in television circles in Jakarta, is entertaining television. As other chapters testify, it has wowed viewers in countries in very varied economic circumstances. Millionaire is just one of a number of quiz and game show formats screening across all channels in Indonesia and is representative of the core business of international format providers in Indonesia which has been growing steadily since 1994.
RIS ID
19310