Is It The Distortion Or The Mission?

Michael Hedges February 27, 2014 Follow on Twitter

Public broadcasting institutions are either beloved or begrudged. They do too much or too little. They’re either big bullies or ineffectual dwarfs. Outsiders just can’t decide. And that always primes the political vacuum pump

Denmark’s Culture Minister Marianne Jelved offered a view of public broadcaster DR’s mission considerably at odds with opposition politicians. “I will bring up for discussion the public service (broadcasting),” she said in an interview with Berlingske (February 25). “I can hear that there are some who believe DR should only do what the commercial players do not do but that is not public service.”

And so, as Denmark’s government embarks on negotiations for a new operating agreement for DR, arguments are renewed about the scope and practice of public broadcasting. Minister Jelved supports a rather large entertainment and news footprint for DR. And that includes new media.

“We must give DR the tools so they can maintain their function,” she continued. “Citizens have paid the license (fee) and, therefore, they must also be able to download the DRs news on the net.” DR will be bringing to Danish license fee payers a streaming media app for smartphones, tablets and smart-TVs in July. Minister Jelved does not, however, suggest giving DR more money.

Other sides bristled. “We are not saying that DR should only broadcast what the commercials won’t,” said far-right People’s Party media spokesperson Morten Marinus, also quoted in the Berlingske article. “But there has been a distortion. There has been too much focus on entertainment and there are too many foreign films on DR3.” Youth channel DR3 launched in early 2013 and Mr. Marinus has often complained about X-Factor and cooking shows, preferring Danish and Christian culture.

“Will consumers still pay DKK 49 (about €6.5) to rent a movie on a commercial service when there’s a 30-day free movie of DR’s app?” asked Danish Producers Association director Klaus Hansen.

Newspaper publishers association Danske Medier isn’t thrilled about DR’s web content. “Today, DR and (regional channel) TV2 disseminate a significant amount of free text news on their websites,” said spokesperson Ebbe Dal. “It is not their job and it means a lot to newspapers that…(are) trying to introduce payment for news on the web.” The newspaper publishers would like DR’s news websites restricted to audio and video.

None of the criticism of DR is particularly new or special to Denmark. “Unconstrained commercial expenditure by the BBC could if taken to its limit wipe out local press,” said UK publishers association Newspaper Society president Adrian Jeakings to a parliamentary sub-committee, quoted by the Guardian (February 25), who seemed to suggest newspaper publishers would like to attach the household license fee that supports the BBC. “If we could find a mechanism where by we would be appropriately rewarded for creating content for them and sharing it with them then we'd be very interested. Just stealing it though, we're not keen on.”

In Germany, newspaper publishers fought with national public TV networks ARD and ZDF over the amount of text – as opposed to audio and video – on news websites and mobile apps though more energy has been expended on getting Google money. Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has brought in consultants to find more savings demanded by the government. Regional public TV in Spain is under particular threat. And, too, some observers suspect the closure of Greek public broadcaster ERT last year had less to do with austerity measures demanded by the IMF and more to do with sports rights contracts coveted by private commercial broadcasters.

On the other side, public broadcasters have had legacy access to broadcast spectrum, long term financing, a rather vague mission and political support. In the extreme this has cut private sector competition, reduced innovation and, in the absolutely worst cases, returned the bad days of State broadcasting. What court challenges can’t determine and new media can’t preclude the dual public-private broadcasting system doesn’t function the same as it once did.

See also in ftm Knowledge

Media in Scandinavia

Big media companies in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are riding a sea of change. The digital media revolution is nowhere more apparent than in Scandinavia. This ftm Knowledge file Media in Scandinavia looks at rapid change in the most 'wired' neighborhood. 103 pages PDF, Resources (June 2012)

Order here

Public Broadcasting - Arguments, Battles and Changes

Public broadcasters have - mostly - thrown off the musty stain of State broadcasting. And audiences for public channels are growing. But arguments and battles with politicians, publishers and commercial broadcasters threatens more changes. The ftm Knowledge file examines all sides. 64 pages PDF (January 2010)

Order here