Public Service Broadcasting

Public Service Broadcasting

A number of broadcast systems developed around the world – two main ones are the BBC public service model and the American commercial model

USA – organized in order to deliver profits to owners

Broadcasting – PSB tradition in Europe

Technical, cultural and democratic reasons for intervention in the market

  The frequency used to broadcast radio and television signals was limited, which created a natural monopoly (era of scarcity; era of availability, era of plenty) 

  Governments chose to regulate the use of the frequency, ‘to guard against the familiar abuses of market dominance, most notably monopoly pricing and the retailing of inferior products’ (Humphreys, 1996: 113).

  Broadcasting as a public/ merit good

  Public utility/ service – for the public good (like health, education…)

        Governments also recognized the social and political potential of broadcasting.

   Seen as having potential to inform and influence, but also potentially dangerous

   Moral & social role, a contributor to public good, a source of human improvement
   ‘Broadcast media had a very effective capacity to focus public attention, to contribute to the creation of public opinion, to legitimize (or de-legitimize) public policy, and even directly to influence voting behavior’ (Humphreys. 1996: 114).

Independence

Public service broadcasting is based on a principle of independence from the state and the market (Broadcasting Research Unit, 1995). The principle of independence began in Britain and became a feature of broadcast systems in Western Europe (Williams, 1990: 34).

Funding

Public funding – tax or licence fee

The system of funding from licence fee receipts is intended to provide a buffer from the market. It is also designed to offer a form of public funding that is not subject to interference from the government of the day.

PSB Principles

Inform - Educate - Entertain

(Lord Reith, Director General, BBC, 1926)

·          Universality of Availability

·          Universality of Appeal

·          Provision for minorities, especially those disadvantaged by physical or social circumstance

·          Serving the Public Sphere

·          A commitment to the education of the public

·          Public broadcasting should be distanced from all vested interests

·          Broadcasting should be so structured as to encourage competition in good programming rather than competition for numbers

·          the rules of broadcasting should liberate rather than restrict the programmed-maker                                                                                                                                     (Tracey, 1998: 26)

·          Universality of Provision

·          Protection of public goods that are vulnerable in a commercial market

·          The expression and development of cultural identity

·          Support for and encouragement of producer originality and creativity

·          Independence from state and advertising pressures

·          Full and fair access to transmission systems

·          To set the standard for the whole broadcasting sector

(Blumler and Nossiter, 1992: 422)