I’ve frequently pounded on the desk and said that localization means more than turning ‘Yes, Mister’ into ‘Si, senor’, and being sure your font draws the tilde. Localization means actually understanding how that content must be changed to capture the hearts and minds of different territories.

Why is this hard? Because it’s hard to understand who likes what, and why. For example, CSI: Miami is the #1 American TV show on the worldwide stage . It’s #12 here, and I think most people who watch it do so because, well, it’s so bad it’s snarkworthy. I know that’s why I watch it – usually in the background while going through bloglines. Let’s just say for me, I’m actually a little happy when our cut-rate DVR accidentally deletes an episode. And this is the #1 American show worldwide?

Other monster worldwide hits include Baywatch and Dallas. Which is to say, while the rest of the world hates Ugly Americans, apparently they love to watch them on the telly.