The main variable that measures the development of a national ability to communicate is the production and circulation of cultural goods. Different approaches evaluate the contribution of communications towards a socio-democratic construction. The free-enterprise approach demands the lack of state interference and freedom to operate in all market segments. The political-communicational approach emphasizes the need for access to all types of media and promotes changes in existing legislation. The economic-cultural approach defines industrial structures, strategies and practices based on which managers and producers can protect creative activities.
Television is a service-industry that has generated deep transformations in our social life.
It is a challenge both for the viewer and the broadcaster. Many reforms have already been implemented both for financial reasons, as in some European countries, as for protectionist regulations, which have allowed underdeveloped countries to protect their national industry. The appearance of television and through it the appearance of economic activities related to the production and circulation of audiovisual material is undergoing constant changes and each country has its own perspective of the audiovisual electronic industry. Some countries, like Mexico and Brazil, are very successfully exporting programs through important private companies with national working capital while other underdeveloped ones have to import equipment. As regards the construction of communications satellites, this industry is a monopoly of a small number of companies and the launching stage has only been done by the United States, France and Russia.