#Licencefees & the continuing independence of #publicservicemedia
"The director-general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has criticized European politicians that have used financing in to exercise control over public service.
In a panel session at New Europe Market (NEM) #Zagreb , Noel Curran said there was significant political pressure over broadcasters. “They are becoming much more direct in how they exert that control. Funding issues often accompany this type of pressure because funding is frequently used as leverage: “You do this, or you don’t get your funding.””
"Curran outlined the various options open to governments of public service media, such as subscription, proposed by Boris Johnson’s UK government, but which had now fallen away; the taxation model used in Finland and Sweden and the household charge adopted in Germany. “We don’t pick one, but the state budget is most risky, once you have a government that doesn’t interfere and then that government changes.”"
I completely agree with the sentiments on government control and #psm and it must be carved out to be completely independent. Sometimes public broadcasters are seen by people in other parts of the world as state broadcasters, as that's what they're used to. This is not the case for most #broadcasters in Europe, they serve the public, not the government. This has been under strain however.
I also think though that the license fee model needs to be revised not just from an editorial standpoint, but commercial. Public service broadcasters are losing money from a declining pool of viewers who still pay it.
In the UK, the returns from the license fee is less and less y.o.y because less people watch #livetv and may consume #videocontent purely on #VOD #streamingplatforms and unless you use #psm portals, you don't need a license. The decline in funding hits psm as they can't produce as much content, rely more on repeats, or in news cut local services and people lose respect for them. We need to find a sustainable model of funding, that's ultimately as important as independence, as without both in harmony, there's no future for #publicmedia
I'm also glad that the conversation has moved into proactively and positively seeking alternatives for license fees. Before, speaking about ending the license fee was seen as an attack on PSM, but its not if it comes from a good place.
We must face facts that the license fee is an outdated means of funding it's necessary to adapt in the new world of the #mediaindustry to survive.
#television #tvindustry #broadcasting #broadcastmedia #streamingmedia
