Political Economy of Media and the Dual Role of Islamic Television Broadcasting in Malaysia

Abstract

This study examines the influence of the political economy of media on the dual role of Islamic television broadcasting in Malaysia, which functions as both a religious institution and a commercial industry. However, previous studies have focused more on program content and da‘wah messages, while empirical investigations remain limited on how the structure of political economy shapes the institutional and industrial roles of Islamic television. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of commodification, structuration, and spatialization on the institutional roles and the industrial roles of Islamic television broadcasting in Malaysia. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological design, with data collected through 22 in-depth interviews involving producers, station management, and Islamic television personalities, supported by a focus group discussion (FGD) with four informants consisting of an Islamic TV personality, two academics in broadcasting, and senior station management, as well as field observations. Data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti version 7.1, while the validity of findings was strengthened through data and method triangulation as well as informant verification (member-checking). The findings show that commodification turns Islamic content, broadcast slots, and religious personalities into commodities; structuration reflects the influence of government regulation, partisan politics, and institutional governance in shaping the identity of Islamic television; while spatialization emphasizes digital reach, audience interactivity, and narrowcasting strategies. In conclusion, the three dimensions of the political economy of media create tension between the ideals of da‘wah and the realities of commercialization, thereby demanding a more sustainable institutional–industrial balance to ensure the continuity of Islamic broadcasting in Malaysia.