The second item is perhaps the more evident: Mecca Cola is a copy of "the real thing" and is thus condemned at inception to be under the latter's sign. It may well come out from under that, but I doubt it as it depends for recognition upon the continued existence of "the real thing".
The first item is shallow reporting. So what if US TV shows are slotted into non-prime slots which are given over to locally produced shows? What are these locally produced shows, their content, their form, their inspiration? Many are simply take-offs, copies, of US shows. Which is the more potent -- the imitation local show or "the real thing"?
In my opinion, far from US cultural sway waning, it is being internalised and "localised"/"nationalised".
kj khoo
At 3:49 AM +0000 2/1/03, Carl Remick wrote:
>[Far-called our navies melt away / On dune and headland sinks the
>fire / Lo, all our branding of yesterday / Is one with Nineveh and
>Tyre! Couple of items from the NY Times:]
>
>January 2, 2003
>
>U.S. TV Shows Losing Potency Around World
>
>By SUZANNE KAPNER
and
>They Choke on Coke, but Savor Mecca-Cola
>
>By JOHN TAGLIABUE
>
>PARIS, Dec. 30 — The idea, says Tawfik Mathlouthi, who runs a radio
>station for France's Muslim minority, came to him in the shower: to
>create a competing product to Coke that would satisfy the needs of
>Arab speakers in Europe and elsewhere for soft drinks, while
>providing jobs and economic growth.
>
>"My son adores McDonald's and Coke," Mr. Mathlouthi, 46, the father
>of two young boys, acknowledged in an interview. His 10-year-old was
>chagrined when his father urged him not to patronize American
>brands. "He said to me, 'Papa, I agree not to drink Coke, but you
>have to give me something.' That's how the idea was born."