This study focuses on the effect of television on international students of Anglia Ruskin University in terms of English speaking skills, knowledge of British culture, change of the type of food, and also the change of type of music. Thousands of students enter UK every year to study. These students, who come from different parts of the world, speak different languages and also have different culture. It was based on this that the researcher decided to undertake this study to identify the level of influence British television has been able to impact in the lives of the international students. Data were collected from 124 respondents through an online survey. The findings helped to understand the television viewing pattern of international students and the channel mostly viewed by them. The results confirmed that each international student has a need which they sought for gratification of those needs by watching a particular TV programme. The researcher also relates the study with both uses and gratification theory and cultivation theory. These theories formed the theoretical framework of the study. The researcher also made recommendations for the policy makers in the TV industry in UK who would like to produce and broadcast programmes that will not be culturally specific so as to appeal to a large audience of different nationalities. These recommendations, if implemented will go a long way to further improve the British TV industry.
Keywords: British television, Cultivation, International student, Uses and gratification
