The Age of Memes － Why Is Broadcasting Hesitating? : Focusing on Broadcast Program Producers’ Interpretations

Key Points

• This study explores the paradox of why broadcasters are hesitant to embrace memes despite public interest.
• Conducted in-depth interviews with 13 broadcast producers across various genres such as entertainment and variety shows.
• Utilized Bourdieu's field theory and perspectives on cultural producers to analyze the findings.
• Examined the autonomy of the broadcasting field and the processes of acquiring and losing symbolic capital associated with meme usage.
• Identified a decrease in autonomy among broadcasters impacting their engagement with meme culture.
• Uncovered challenges related to acquiring symbolic capital while navigating the evolving digital hierarchy.
• Highlighted strategic positions taken by producers in response to structural delays and the dilemmas around symbolic capital.