Public Broadcasting

Research Team 1E - Mark Boukes, Liza de Leeuw, Femke de Koning, Jan Peters

Public Broadcasting

• Public broadcasting: active on the platforms radio, television, internet and mobile telephony

• The main purpose: to reach as many different groups in society with diverse and high quality content

History• 1951: Rise of television and Dutch Television

Foundation• 1956: All broadcasters provided by the NTS • 1962: Competition Veronica• 1964-1969: Overgangsbestel & The founding of

the NOS• 1987: The Dutch Medialaw constituted• 1989: Commissionary for the Media founded• 1998: NOS & NPS• 2003: Criticism Public Broadcasting• 2010: Announced large cutbacks of expenditures

Aims

- Divers information to enrich the population

- Objective, robust and independent news

- Creation of a vibrant public sphere

- Creation of civic engagement

What should it add?

Different opinions from different points of view

“Public service broadcasting must inform, educate and entertain in a way which the private sector, left unregulated, would not do”

Former BBC-Chairman Gavyn Davies

What should it add?

Different opinions from different points of view

“Pluralism of media-content is what public broadcasting should provide for a wide audience”

Chairman NPO - Henk Hagoort

“The public broadcaster is responsible for the production and spread of a pluralistic supply of high quality programs on the areas of information, culture, education and entertainment”

(source npo.nl)

What should it add?

Different opinions from different points of view

Brand new cabinet (Rutte - Verhagen)

High quality programs with less budget- reduce of theme-channels- clustering of public broadcaster organizations- reduction of bureaucracy

What should it add?

Different opinions from different points of view

Scientists

Are positive about the Dutch model of public service broadcastingCollins, R., Finn, A., McFayen. S. & Hoskins, C. (2001)Bardoel, J. (2003)

public accountability

Dual system of accountability external accountability

Role of public broadcasting• High quality programs or programs that focus on a

relatively small audience, which are due to economic reasons not profitable to being produced by commercial parties.

• McManus (1995): - Commercial broadcasters only deal in their own interest- A healthy market needs choice for the consumers- Giving the audience a choice between different programs

Role of public broadcasting• Deuze (2006):

“Journalism is generally considered to be contributing significantly to the functioning and well-being of society”.

• Croteau (2006): The special status to serve the public and responsibility to inform and educate the citizens is recognized in different ethical codes (Statement of Principles of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Society of Professional Journalists: “Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy”).

Arguments against public broadcasting

“Unfair competition” Bennett (2004)

“Having only commercial broadcasting, means that governments are left out in the process of news coverage”

McManus (1995)

“Market based broadcasters are forced to work in a more efficient manner” ------

Discussion

What should public service broadcasting cost?

NPO - € 0,10 BBC - € 1,40 per person a dayARD & ZDF - € 0,45

Are politicians complaining about nothing? Or do we have to cut (even more) on budgets for PB?