Portuguese television policy in the international context: an analysis of the links with the EU, Brazil and the US

Abstract

In this paper, we will start by analysing the dependency relationship between Portugal and the US and Brazil in terms of programming. This will be followed by an examination of the main reasons why the EU policies and productions have been quite irrelevant to the Portuguese broadcasting scenario. And, finally, we will argue that - despite the increasing external links and EU legislation - very concrete national decisions (or deliberate non-decisions) taken by national politicians under pressure from nationally-based lobbies lay behind the present configuration of Portuguese television system.