Smart TV Users and Interfaces: Who’s in Control?
JOURNAL
Smart TV Users and Interfaces: Who’s in Control?
Ramon Lobato, Alexa Scarlata, Bruno Schivinski | International Communication Journal
As smart TVs are flooding the market and increasingly replacing traditional non-connected TVs, very little is known about how smart TVs are used once they were bought.
Based on the case study of Australia, the authors examined the usage habits of smart TV owners, in particular the agency people have in relation to smart TV apps and interfaces. This study shows how unevenly the ability to customise a smart TV is across society and brings up how these findings could impact the current policy debates about prominence regulation.
How public service media are changing in the platform era: A comparative study across four European countries
JOURNAL
How public service media are changing in the platform era: A comparative study across four European countries
Marius Dragomir & Miguel Túñez López | European Journal of Communication
Public service media (PSM) benefit from certain advantages such as access to public funding and technical infrastructure, as well as a special regulatory framework allowing them to reach almost the entire population. However, this special position in society does not protect them from various challenges to which they are regularly confronted, including economic and political pressures or opposition from privately owned media. In the recent year, the shift to platforms has also brought its series of challenges.
This research looks into the transformation of four European PSM in response to the pressures related to platformatisation and how they adapt to this new digital landscape while maintaining the core values of PSM.
Are Public Service Media Innovative? Developing a Tool for Assessing Innovation in Production Processes
JOURNAL
Are Public Service Media Innovative? Developing a Tool for Assessing Innovation in Production Processes
Mónica López-Golàn, Azhara Cañedo & Olga Blasco-Blasco | International Journal of Communication
As society is going through a time of fast technological evolution, especially when it comes to platformatisation, public service media (PSM) have to rethink their public service mission to include the new needs and demands of their audience while keeping up with technological and digital innovation. However, their independence and their cornerstone role to support a democratic society should not be undermined by this transformation. In this study, the authors looked into the case of the Spanish PSM to assess the state of innovation in PSM production processes and concluded that in a context where PSM corporations are redefining their public value innovation should not be seen as an option but as a reality and that is should go beyong the technological aspect of innovation.
How public service media are changing in the platform era: A comparative study across four European countries
JOURNAL
How public service media are changing in the platform era: A comparative study across four European countries
Marius Dragomir & Miguel Túñez López | European Journal of Communication
2024
The platformisation of the public sphere has profoundly reshaped the media landscape, exerting particular pressure on public service media (PSM).
The imperative to uphold PSM’s core values—universality, independence, excellence, diversity, accountability, and innovation—has become increasingly complex amid the shift to digital ecosystems. These principles, essential to PSM’s role in democratic societies, now face additional strains as digital platforms alter traditional models of content distribution and audience engagement.
This article seeks to examine the evolution of PSM in response to these pressures in four European countries: Austria, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Accountability and platforms' governance: the case of online prominence of public service media content
POLICY BRIEF
Accountability and platforms’ governance: the case of online prominence of public service media content
Krisztina Rozgonyi | Internet Policy Review
2023
Public discourse has shifted online, with platforms becoming crucial sources and distributors of information. Public Service Media (PSM) increasingly depends on these platforms to reach a wide audience. However, these platforms control how PSM content is shared and engaged with, using their own algorithms and laws.
This paper explores the need for protections to ensure PSM content is delivered effectively on digital platforms, as part of maintaining media diversity. It examines current and potential policies for giving public value content, or “due prominence,” a special status online. This study also looks at whether current accountability measures are adequate for promoting media pluralism and offers recommendations for future policies focused on public-interest platform governance.
Future-Proofing the UK’s Public Service Media
POLICY BRIEF
Future-proofing the UK’s public service media
Catherine Johnson & Dan Martin | PSM AP
2024
The rise of global platforms has brought new challenges that have threatened the legitimacy of public service media and broadcasters. In this context, PSM-AP has carried out a large-scale comparative research project, studying media laws, broadcast contracts and licences, annual reports, and current policy debates. This brief presents the core findings, analysis and recommendations to better support public service media in the UK.
Towards a Future-Proof Public Service Media?
POLICY BRIEF
Towards a Future-Proof Public Service Media?
Tim Raats, Catalina Iordache & Catherine Johnson | PSM AP
2024
Social and technological advances that appeared in the last few years have brought new challenges for public service media. Radical changes in media use, the advent of streaming services and the dominance of big tech as well as the increasing diversity and polarisation of societies have led to the erosion of trust in traditional media. This policy brief results from the comparative research project analysing ‘Public Service Media in the Age of Platforms’ (PSM AP). It outlines key discoveries and conversations regarding Public Service Media (PSM) and platformisation in several markets in Europe and Canada. Among the recommendations made by the authors, was the emphasis on adopting a digital-first approach while ensuring universality and bridging digital and socio-economic divides.
Shifting TV Audience Expectations in the UK during Covid-19
JOURNAL
Public Service TV in the Age of Subscription Video on Demand: Shifting Audience Expectations in the UK during COVID-19
Catherine Johnson and Lauren Dempsey | Media, Culture and Society
2023
During the Covid lockdowns in the UK, television viewing surged, driven primarily by a doubling in the number of hours people spent watching subscription video on demand (SVOD) services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. If anything, lockdown appeared to catalyse the adoption of SVODs.
This paper, based on empirical research, examines how these changing behaviours might alter the cultural meanings people attach to television, and what this fast-changing dynamic may mean for public service broadcasters.
Addressing AI Intelligibility in Public Service Journalism
JOURNAL
AI ‘Everywhere and Nowhere’: Addressing the AI Intelligibility Problem in Public Service Journalism
Bronwyn Jones, Rhianne Jones, and Ewa Luger | Digital Journalism 10(10)
2023
Based on document analysis and interviews with 14 journalists, this paper explores how artificial intelligence is deployed at BBC News, and the level of literacy and understanding that those who are using AI for journalism have of the technology.
The rising prevalence of AI and algorithms has prompted concerns about how journalists understand and engage with the technology, without compromising their professional judgement and accountability.
Ultimately, the authors recommend better strategies for organisations and better AI literacy for journalists so public service organisations can uphold their norms and values.
News Personalisation and Public Service Media: The Audience Perspective
JOURNAL
News Personalisation and Public Service Media: The Audience Perspective in Three European Countries
Annika Sehl, Maximilian Eder | Journal Media 4(1)
2023
News organisations are increasingly providing personalised offerings curated by algorithms. This offers a tailored experience of a broadcaster’s content, but concerns have been raised about how it conflicts with public media values of universality of access, reach and content, particularly when an algorithm replaces an editor as curator.
This paper explores the opportunities and challenges, taking a look at users’ attitudes, concerns and expectations. Comparing three counties — the UK, Germany and France — it finds that some users are concerned about missing certain stories or viewpoints, though the extent of concern differs depending on each country’s media system.