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The European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, has just published: “Governance and funding of public service media”. This new report is authored by Olivier Hermanns and Amélie Lacourt from the Observatory’s Department for Legal Information.

Public service media (PSM) play a fundamental role in supporting democratic societies. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) establishes a common framework to contribute to the independent functioning of PSM providers across the European Union.

Hermanns and Lacourt are unpacking the legal landscape of PSM in Europe. They describe how PSM are managed and financed across Europe, and offer comparative insights of the Observatory’s member states. The report includes numerous visuals and is complemented by extensive national data tables available online.

Chapter One sets out the scope of this report, defining its territorial and subjective reach. It highlights the context of the EMFA and introduces key concepts such as management structure and public service remit.

Chapter Two delves into the governance of PSM providers. This chapter provides a comparative view of how different countries ensure the independence of PSM leadership through legal safeguards. The key question analysed in this chapter relates to how senior management of PSM is appointed and indeed dismissed.  What are the procedures? The authors also examine the use of possible appointment criteria such as professional expertise or gender balance.

Chapter Three explores the funding mechanisms behind PSM. Clearly there are multiple different PSM funding models in place throughout Europe, and so the authors identify the various possible financial resources such as licence fees, state budgets, advertising, and hybrid structures. The chapter then goes on to examine the adequacy, sustainability, and predictability of financial resources in line with EMFA’s Article 5(3). 

The report concludes with food for thought on its key themes. The governance and funding of PSM providers display significant diversity, shaped by distinct national legislative frameworks and cultural contexts. Even similar legal texts in different countries may be applied differently due to constitutional contexts or other factors. Council of Europe standards in this field can provide valuable guidance for establishing effective governance, balanced representation, adequate and sustainable funding, the adaptation of the PSM remit to the digital information society, and contribution to media pluralism.

A must-read new report on public service media in Europe, offering a unique resource for media regulators, policy-makers, and researchers.