STATEMENT

Safeguarding the future of public service media in Europe

16 January 2026
As the EU Commission considers changes to the 2009 Broadcasting Communication, the essential principles for the independent funding, oversight and remit of public media should be safeguarded, not watered down.
Row of EU flags with red carpet
EU flags in EU Council building during the meeting of Eurogroup Finance Ministers, at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium on Nov. 7, 2022. Credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com/

This week, the Public Media Alliance responded to a European Commission consultation into the future of the 2009 Broadcasting Communication, calling for the maintenance of adequate safeguards for independent and sustainable funding for public service media across Europe, and to ensure their resilience in the fast-changing digital and political environment.

The 2009 Broadcasting Communication (BComm) determines essential principles for financial transparency and proportionality while respecting EU member states’ discretion in defining and funding their public remit. The BComm also defines the clear role of public broadcasters in promoting content of public interest, cultural diversity and social inclusion.

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The aim of the consultation is to evaluate the effectiveness, relevance and outcomes of the Communication.

We believe that an extensive revision of the BComm is not a necessary endeavour. Its current structure remains a strong and relevant compass to assess whether public funding for public broadcasters complies with EU State Aid rules.

Alongside our colleagues at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), PMA calls on the European Commission to instead ensure the BComm remains coherent and relevant considering recent European legislation, such as the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA).

At a time of democratic backsliding marked by rising political and social polarisation, fast-spreading disinformation across digital platforms, and increased attacks on media freedom, protecting the core values of public service media as trusted, reliable and viable sources of news and information is more crucial than ever.

The global and digital convergence of the media ecosystem has brought new sets of challenges to public broadcasters, marked by a struggle for prominence and discoverability amidst competition with global big tech, with diminishing commercial revenue as a result. This, combined with growing political pressure on public funding mechanisms and independence within several member states, makes the robust protection of public funding sources essential.

Some critics of public service media argue public funding harms private print and online media, resulting in a “crowding out” effect on the media market. However, these claims have not been empirically proven. On the contrary, studies have suggested that countries with well-funded PSM co-exist with a flourishing commercial media market.

In a tense geopolitical climate, where authoritarian states seek to influence global discourse and disinformation is rife, it is vital to safeguard well-funded independent public service media as a cornerstone of democratic societies. Public service media are often the most trusted and reliable sources of news and information for populations, and it is critical that they remain so. A universal public service, reaching all demographics, helps to inform societal and democratic participation, especially during times of crisis and emergency. They continue to have a fundamental role in fostering national and regional cohesion, in part by fostering and supporting the cultural and artistic sectors.

Reflecting this Commission’s commitment to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of free media in Europe, including public service media, we urge the Commission to support a framework that empowers public media to strengthen their role as positive actors to the European informational, educational and cultural sectors, and avoid unnecessary substantive change to the BComm. Any revision to the BComm should ensure that public service media are adequately empowered and funded to reach a diversity of audiences via a range of digital services and platforms, to ensure trust, prominence and accessibility.

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