Public television in small European countries: Challenges and strategies

Abstract

This paper investigates the challenges that Public Television (PTV) broadcasters in small Western European countries encounter in a competitive digital broadcasting environment, and looks at the policies and strategies that these broadcasters are adapting in order to remain accountable, competitive and efficient. The paper starts by charting the privileges that PTV broadcasters have enjoyed, notably political support, relatively secure funding and longevity. Then it moves on to analyzing the enormous technological, economic, political and wider social changes that have occurred in the European broadcasting ecology in the past two decades and the competitive and financial challenges these shifts have brought about for the public corporations. The third and final part of the paper focuses on the factors affecting PTV broadcasters operating in the smaller territories of Europe and analyzes the organizational, scheduling and programming strategies adapted by these broadcasters. The paper concludes that PTV in Europe has shown resilience but has largely adapted a more populist tone.