Public Service Media and Policy in Europe

ISBN-13: 9780230290969 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 234 str.

Karen Donders

Opis

Public Service Media and Policy in Europe provides an in-depth account of EU policies in the area of public service broadcasting, focusing mainly on the application of the European State aid rules. The book discusses when, how and with what impact the European Commission deals with public service broadcasting. There is an element of fear towards the intervention of the European Commission, and a worry that it is overly focused on economic goals to the detriment of public interest objectives. More specifically, the fear exists that 'Europe' might hamper the evolution from public service broadcasting to public service media and introduce harmonized European rules for public service broadcasting. Private media companies have lobbied extensively against the expansion of public broadcasters' tasks and for a European straitjacket in this regard. Karen Donders evaluates whether the European Commission has indeed satisfied private sector interests by marginalising public broadcasters, or whether it has in fact contributed to the emergence of a public service media project.

Recenzje

'Karen Donders investigates the transition from public service broadcasting to public service media, focusing especially on multi-stakeholder negotiations between the European Commission and the EU Member States. Her evaluation of the impact of State aid policy on public service broadcasting finds that the European Commission's positions have fostered accountability and responsiveness to the requirements of a digital era. She concludes that the Commission has a holistic view of public service media and is not overly driven by competition policy and market failure arguments. This is a major contribution providing insight into the dynamics of change in a controversial policy area. This book will spark a productive debate among scholars and policy makers.'

- Robin Mansell, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

'Public service media are key to the European democratic project. Good public service is based on editorial independence, high ethical standards, sustainable funding and the freedom to adapt the organization and its editorial services to the audience's needs in a digital world. Karen Donders stresses the need for a coherent EU policy and legal framework to enable public service broadcasters to evolve in the digital age. Only within such a context can there be a true dual system, comprising public service and commercial broadcasting, which is the cornerstone of the European media landscape.'

- Ingrid Deltenre, Director General European Broadcasting Union

'I welcome this thorough research on State aid for public broadcasting. It will inspire the scientific debate in the wake of the recent reform of the Broadcasting Communication.'

- Wouter Pieké, Head of Unit State aid to Media, European Commission

'Governments across Europe are revisiting the appropriate level of public sector intervention in digital media markets, provoking a lively debate about the necessary regulatory toolkit. Karen Donders has pioneered academic study in this very topical area.'

- Ross Biggam, Director General Association of Commercial Television in Europe

'Public Service Media and Policy in Europe shines a cool, analytical light over a controversial area of EU law. Balanced and clearly argued, it is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to understand the law and policy dynamics of EU engagement with

public service media. The book will be of interest to students studying media law and regulation as well as to regulators, policy makers and practising lawyers working in the media and/or competition law fields.' - Rachael Craufurd Smith, Journal of Media Law

Spis treści

List of Tables List of Figures Introduction, Aims and Methodology From Public Service Broadcasting to Public Service Media Perspectives on Public Service Media A Framework for Public Service Media EU Market Integration in the Broadcasting Sector EU State Aid Rules and the Broadcasting Sector There and Back Again: A Chronological Perspective on the State Aid Control of Public Service Broadcasting 'Europe Decides': Evaluating Public Broadcasting Schemes Germany Flanders The Netherlands Conclusion References Index

O autorze

KAREN DONDERS is Senior Researcher with the Centre for Studies on Media Information and Telecommunication (SMIT) and the Institute for European Studies (IES) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. She also lectures in European media policy at the same university.