Today in Brussels the Open Society Institute has presented the monitoring report “Television across Europe: regulation, policy and independence“. The 1662 pages report analyses broadcasting across 20 European countries (including EU members, candidates and potential candidates), and addresses policy recommendations to national and international authorities and groups.

The findings seem slightly alarmist. For example, the major finding is :
�The pivotal role of television in supporting democracy in Europe is under threat. Public service broadcasters are compromising quality to compete with commercial channels, and many of them depend on Governments or political parties. Meanwhile, ever-larger concentrations are developing in the commercial sector, often with clear political affiliations. These developments jeopardise broadcasting pluralism and diversity, with the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe most at risk.�

Other findings include:
�While there are nearly 4,000 television channels in Europe, the report reveals that the television market is in reality highly concentrated in terms of both ownership and audience shares. In most countries, a handful of channels attract the vast majority of viewers. Ownership structures are controlled by a few companies and often shrouded in secrecy. Political pressure on regulators and public service broadcasters is widespread.�

�In Europe, universally available high quality programmes are scarce. Investigative journalism and minority programming are hard to find in both public service and commercial broadcasting. Newscasts are often tabloid, particularly on commercial channels. As a result, viewers often do not receive the information necessary to make informed democratic choices.�

Recommendations are made on a number of areas. For example, in the area of media policy it is submitted that �The regulators must have the resources and powers to monitor broadcasters, and their compliance with legislation and licence conditions� and �The European Union should establish an independent agency to monitor media markets and media concentration in the EU and on global markets.�

On commercial broadcasting the report suggests that �Governments and parliaments should adopt legislation ensuring transparency of ownership of all media outlets, including external investors� It also favours the introduction EU legislation on media ownership to ensure transparency.

Comment: Although the report seems over alarmist in some of its findings and highly intrusive in some of its recommendations, it is valuable as it provides the largest ever comparative survey of its kind. Note also that the majority of the countries covered are Central and Eastern European, with often less mature regulatory systems, different broadcasting traditions and unenthusiastic approaches towards public service broadcasting. The report is certainly comprehensive and includes detailed information on governance structures, PSB obligations, funding, channels and audience shares , television companies revenues, viewing time, etc.

The full text of the report is available here (you can also request paper copies by contacting: Csilla Toth at OSI-EUMAP in Budapest, cstoth@osi.hu )