Can PSB Stake its Claim in a Media World of Digital Convergence?

Abstract

Taking the renewal of the management contract (2007—11) of Flemish PSB as a case in point, this article — by means of a policy analysis model — intends to contribute to a better understanding of the role of the technological argument of digitization in policy making and to the ongoing discussion in public and academic forums about the role and position of PSB in the 21st century. Theoretically, the article concentrates on the dominant and alternative paradigms that feed contemporary discussions regarding the possible and `legitimate' role(s) of PSB in a globalizing and digital interactive cross- and multimedia environment. Special attention is paid to the positions of technology and culture in the discourses on what constitutes a `legitimate' future for PSB, as these two aspects seem to have (re)gained momentum in the renewed debates regarding the raison d'être and accountability of PSB. This article focuses on the policy process leading up to the new management contract of Flemish PSB. In particular, it analyses the discourses of relevant stakeholders that have dominated the process and influenced the eventual outcome. To this end, desk research and close reading of relevant texts are combined with interviews with relevant actors and privileged witnesses. These findings are then evaluated against the wider international context of European discussions regarding the future of PSB and some of its core characteristics in a media world dominated by digital convergence.

Media policymaking and multistakeholder involvement: Matching audience, stakeholder and government expectations for public service media in Flanders

“…The first contract (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001) introduced performance indicators based on viewing figures. Subsequent contracts added appreciation figures and quality standards (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006), reinforced the cultural remit (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011), specified the digital remit (2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016) and prioritized 8 supporting the wider Flemish media ecology (2015-2020) (Van den Bulck, 2008;Raats, Van den Bulck & d'Haenens, 2016).…”

Decline and fall of public service media values in the international content acquisition market: An analysis of small public broadcasters acquiring BBC Worldwide content

“…Universality is also seen to go beyond mere mass communication of services to include and promote participation, co-creation and interaction. Although often used as buzzwords to sustain technological optimist visions on evolutions in society (Van den Bulck, 2008), they are conceptual expressions of the increased importance scholars attach to a more equitable and two-way relationship between public broadcasters and audiences (Bardoel and Lowe, 2007; Vanhaeght and Donders, 2015).…”

Collisions of convergence

“…To explore these issues, this study focuses on the 2007 newsroom convergence and its aftermath of the Flemish 1 public service broadcasting institution VRT. VRT and its radio, television and online news services have a strong position in the Flemish media landscape, much consulted and appreciated by audiences but criticized by commercial competitors for its perceived disruption of fair competition (Van den Bulck, 2008). This criticism was strengthened by the banking and subsequent economic crisis that started in 2008, resulting in a drop in advertising revenues for commercial media players and in governmentenforced budget cuts for VRT with ramifications for all aspects of its production including news.…”