Case 168 - Competition among Japan, the United States, and Europe over High-Definition Television

by ISD - Georgetown University
$ 4.50

Krauss, Ellis S.

The first part of this case study describes the development of high-definition television by Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, and the efforts to gain acceptance for its technology as the international standard. The second part describes how European resistance to this standard led to the collapse of U.S. support for Japanese technology and the probable development of three separate systems of HDTV in the world. This case study reveals the complicated patterns of competition and cooperation resulting from national interest in contemporary international economic relations, and explores how the introduction, development, and applications of a new technology are all influenced by national and international politics.