Public Service Broadcasting Analysis

Like the UK’s constitution, a unique definition of public service broadcasting (PSB) remains unwritten and exists largely as an ethos interspersed throughout legislature and policy (Tunstall 2010). While concepts and approaches to PSB overlap no single definition has existed since its inception; definitions offered vary depending on the individual, region, country, or organisation examined (Just et al. 2017; Larsen 2014; Branston and Stafford 2010). As there exist myriad contextual dependencies that form PSB, this essay will examine what is meant by public service broadcasting through the shared and agreed upon opinion, purposes, and characteristics of broadcasters, academics, and bodies that oversee PSB. In doing so an explanation surrounding
These range from universality, meaning the programme broadcast be accessible to every citizen; diversity, which includes target audience, genre, and subject matter of programmes; independence from political and commercial oversight; and distinctiveness, excellence, and innovation, all which pertain to the quality of programmes offered and helpful in differentiating public service broadcasters and their programming from commercial services, most of which focus on entertainment (EBU 2018; Ofcom 2017; BBC 2016; Kant 2014; Banerjee and Seneviratne 2005). Additionally, while the PSB definition dispute continues, agreement on components that make a PSB also include public funding in the form of a fee or tax (Berg and Lund 2012), or a remit generally assigned by the government, which historically comes with the directive to broadcast shows to the public that inform, educate, and entertain (Moe
Accordingly, when public service broadcasters are corporate or state funded they become subject to the agenda, prejudice, and megrim of a third party which compromises their independence and ability to work effectively in the public’s interests (Psychogiopoulou et. al 2017). An example of this occurred in 2013 when the Greek government closed the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), the country’s only PSB, to appease the EU’s bailout deal. With the rise of the far-right in Greece and government corruption at various levels, the closure of ERT abandoned the country without a platform and voice to hold the government accountable. Furthermore, this left the country reliant on private media corporations for news, information, and entertainment (Iosifidis and Katsirea 2015). As evidenced in America from broadcasters like Fox News, when commercial news outlets outweigh and overpower PSB’s, the result is an increase in prejudiced and dogmatic media personalities that results in accentuated polarisation. Countries capable of preventing such an occurrence are predominantly those with PSB’s. This is evident in the UK where Fox News’ sister company, Sky News, is restrained from becoming an