The origin of imported TV content and the public service remit in European PSBs: RTVE and the BBC

Abstract

This article analyses the role of foreign content in the public broadcasting corporations from two major European markets, Spain and the United Kingdom. Through a quantitative approach to schedules and in-depth interviews with the heads of the acquisitions departments, it is demonstrated that RTVE and BBC, both public media corporations, have a very different approach to the scheduling of acquisitions due to their distinct concept of public service remit. While in Spain this is focused on the cultural diversity of programmes, the approach in the United Kingdom is to only promote British productions.