In search of common ground

The article explores conceptualizations of multicultural programming by commissioningeditors and programme-makers working for public broadcasters in five west Europeancountries. It discusses current ideas concerning multicultural programming as wellas resulting programme formats. The article shows how makers of multiculturalprogrammes have developed several strategies to address both minority and mainstreamaudiences. These vary from creating common points of reference and concentrating onso-called universal experiences such as death, birth, love and friendship to makinguse of lighthearted formulas. It also shows how, especially in the Netherlands andthe UK, multicultural programming has developed into a broad range of formats,labelled ‘cross-cultural’. Factual entertainment or infotainmentformats, addressing urban and young audiences, are favoured at the cost of socialrealist styles and programmes addressing older audiences or first-generation immigrants