There are more than 100 organisations around the world that self-identify as public service media.

But while many of these organisations are built upon the core values of public media – such as public funding, accountability, accuracy, impartiality and universalism – each varies in structure, in their operation, and the degree to which they adhere to each value.

They also differ according to the social, political, cultural and economic contexts of their national setting.

With this in mind, the Public Media Alliance has used publicly available data to provide an index of these organisations and the way in which they identify as public service media. The index will be used to analyse these organisations and the extent to which they provide value to the public in our new annual review.

Exploring the data

Simply scroll the page or use the dotted icons on the right hand side to browse the data.

The information is arranged by region and alphabetically.

This is an ongoing project for PMA and we would welcome input from members and other public media organisations. Please email info@publicmediaalliance.org with any suggestions or comments regarding the details we display for your organisation.  More organisations will be added in the coming weeks.

Africa

GBC Ghana

National Networks

2 national TV channels
5 regional TV channels

2 national radio stations
14 regional radio stations

Online 

www.gbcghanaonline.com

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)

Radio | Television | Online

23

broadcasts
in 23 Ghanaian
languages

50%

audience share
of GTV &
GTV Sports+

30th

RSF World
Press Freedom
ranking

Overview

Updated: January 2021

Founded in 1935, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation is the country’s oldest state-owned broadcaster and describes itself as ‘The Authentic and Trusted Voice Of Ghana.’

While GBC has in the past been known to operate under the government’s control, the broadcaster is now mandated to carry out its public service role to inform, educate and entertain the Ghanaian public. GBC operates seven television channels, including the national GTV, Obonu TV, which is an exclusive regional channel that promotes the Ga-Dangbe language and culture as well as Ghana Learning TV, which was launched in April 2020 to provide educational content to school children across all of Ghana’s 16 regions during school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. GBC also operates 2 national radio channels alongside 16 regional and community FM radio channels.

The broadcaster is funded by a TV licence and commercial revenue. However, in recent years, there has been strong opposition against paying the licence fee amid debates about how it is collected. These funding pressures have led to some concerns about the quality of GBC’s content and the organisation’s viability.

In July 2020, GBC was sent a directive by the Ministry of Communications ordering the broadcaster to reduce the number of channels it operates on the national Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) by half, stating that the spectrum was full and that the government needed to free up space in order to broadcast important messages to the public. The directive was suspended following widespread criticism of the government’s undue interference.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Government of Ghana

Ghana has one of the freest media landscapes in Africa – and worldwide. The public broadcaster is also protected from political or editorial interference under the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Act 1968 and the 1992 Constitution as well as other legal provisions. The National Media Commission (NMC) is the regulator in Ghana that oversees media organisations in the country.

GBC is funded by a TV licence fee, which costs GHC36 (GBP6) annually and is supplemented by commercial revenue.

Recent reports reveal that the GBC needs around GHC600 million for the live coverage of the 2020 Ghanaian Election Petition.

In other news, GBC announced a collaboration with the University of Environment and Sustainable Development to promote science programmes and support education in Ghana.

NBC

National Networks

3 national TV channels

10 national radio channels
Community radio stations

Online 

https://www.nbc.na/

Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)

Radio | Television | Online

78%

reach across
the country
via radio

10

different languages
for radio
broadcasts

23rd

Namibia has
the highest press
freedom ranking in
Africa (RSF)

Overview

Updated: January 2021

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is Namibia’s national public broadcaster. Entering its 30th year, NBC was established in 1991 – one year after Namibia gained independence – to inform, educate and entertain the Namibian public and to create a shared national and cultural experience.

Despite Namibia being one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, NBC’s radios manage to reach nearly 80% of the population. Community-based radio stations are located around the country and many broadcast to specific language groups and communities. NBC’s TV services also offer programming in indigenous languages. This is part of NBC’s mandate to cater for minority communities.

While Namibia is Africa’s highest ranked country for media freedom (RSF World Press Freedom Index 2020), the public broadcaster has not been insulated from occasional attempts at editorial interference. Yet, NBC has demonstrated its ability to protect its editorial independence and its commitment to key PSM values.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Government of Namibia

NBC is regulated and governed by the Namibian Broadcasting Act No. 9 of 1991. The public broadcaster is supervised and controlled by the NBC Board of Directors. The Minister of Information and Communication Technology appoints the Board members for a five-year period.

“The NBC Board, in turn, appoints a Director General. This Director General, the chief executive officer, is a member of the Board; he is, however, not entitled to exercise a vote at board meetings.”

[Text sourced from NBC]

NBC is primarily funded by an annual state subsidy. This is supplemented by an annual television licence fee, which costs N$ 204 (£12), although there are concessions for pensioners, disabled persons and households with multiple TV sets. Other sources of income derive from commercial activities including airtime and programme sales and renting out transmitters.

In recent years, NBC has dealt with a worsening financial crisis. In 2019, this resulted in the public broadcaster announcing cost-cutting measures, including reducing or suspending airtime across its radio and television channels. While some of these measures have since been lifted, NBC has been in recent negotiations with a labour union about contracts.

Even though NBC has risen to the challenge of covering COVID-19 by making information available in local languages and providing special COVID-19 programmes, the pandemic has further added to its funding woes due to declining advertising revenue and internet connectivity issues.

National Networks

2 TV channels
2 radio stations

International Networks

Broadcasts international TV services including DW, TV5 Monde and France 24 

Relays 2 international radio stations: Radio France International (RFI) and BBC World Service on FM. 

Online 

www.sbc.sc/ 

Social media 

Radio apps 

Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)

Radio | Television | Online

94%

watch SBC News
consistently, often
or sometimes

60%

audience are
satisfied with
SBC

+11

Seychelles is now
52nd in RSF's
2021 World Press
Freedom Index

Overview

Updated: April 2021

The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) is the national public broadcaster of the Republic of Seychelles. Across two radio and TV channels, SBC offers a diverse range of programme genres, including news and currents affairs, factual and learning, childrens, religion and ethics, music, drama, and comedy. According to SBC, in 1992, “Following the re-introduction of multiparty politics, RTS (a government station run by the Ministry of Information) became the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), a public broadcasting service.”  

In its first edition of Editorial Guidelines (2020), SBC’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Gérard Lafortune, wrote that “The SBC belongs to the people of Seychelles… It comes during a period of rapid political transformation where the SBC’s role is under close scrutiny. In the current transition from being a State Broadcaster to an independent and impartial National Broadcaster, public perception will take time to readjust. The strict adherence to these guidelines is fundamental in this process.” The Editorial Guidelines sets out SBC’s standards to ensure that its content is produced with “fairness, accuracy and impartiality.”  

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

State-owned  

The SBC Amendment Act 2017 acts as the premise for ensuring SBC’s commitment to objectivity and political neutrality and changed the way that the independent board of directors were appointed (under the SBC Act 2011, board members were appointed by the President of the Republic of Seychelles).   

Article 168 of the Constitution also guides SBC and makes provisions for it as an independent state-owned broadcaster. For example, Article 168(1) ensures that publicly funded media organisations operate independently of the state and are free from political or other influences. Meanwhile, Article 168 (2) provides facilities for a diversity of views within the public broadcaster. 

However, in its three-year Strategic Plan, SBC acknowledges that the broadcaster “should be represented by its Board (and CEO) during National Assembly summons. This should provide further reassurance to all stakeholders that the National Broadcaster is not under the government’s control.” 

SBC receives funding from the government budget and from advertising revenue.  

In its three-year Strategic Plan, SBC states its financial autonomy: “The SBC’s editorial independence is better safeguarded by a funding policy that does not make it dependent on the politicians of the day for approval of its funding for the coming year. SBC’s funding should ideally be via a medium-term funding mechanism that commits expenditure to the Corporation for four or five years or so, supported by an interim spending review.” 

2/3 of its annual budget allocation is spent on staffing costs. Part of its ongoing funding strategy includes monetising its local production content and archives in order to make up for shortfalls in programme funding and reviewing staffing costs. 

According to SBC’s Audience Survey Report 2020, around 94% of respondents watch SBC News consistently, often or sometimes and 70% of respondents watch SBC TV (combined SBC1, SBC2, SBC3) for 2 or more hours on average in a day – an increase of 6% from 2019. 

Ahead of the general elections in October 2020, SBC published a press release to reaffirm its commitment to performing its mandate “…impartially, independently and in the public interest during the election period and beyond”, following criticism related to its election coverage. Looking ahead, its priorities include increasing the quality and quantity of its output – particularly its local content, ensuring that SBC is fit for a digital future, strengthening its governance and improving its financial situation. 

SABC

National Networks

5 Television stations
19 radio stations
Parliamentary channel

International Networks

Available in Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini

Online 

SABC.co.za

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

Radio | Television | Online

77%

audience trust
in SABC News
2020

42%

increase
national news
market share
(2020)

27.9
million

average
network viewers
per month 

Overview

Updated: April 2021

2020 marks 70 years since the SABC’s first in-house news broadcast. Since then, the South African national public broadcaster has enjoyed increasing audience growth. According to RISJ’s 2020 Digital News Report SABC reaches 51% of the population offline and 45% online weekly. SABC News has also been voted the 4th most trusted news brand in South Africa. 

In its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SABC launched a brand new education channel in collaboration with the South African government to assist children with distance learning during school closures. The broadcaster also expanded its news and current affairs services, which has been applauded throughout the pandemic.  

But in recent years, the organisation has come under considerable financial difficulties. In 2019 it received a government bailout in order to pay outstanding debts. Despite recently launching measures to improve financial stability and self-sufficiency, the broadcaster confirmed a retrenchment process that would result in the loss of hundreds of jobs. There has also been recent debate about how SABC’s TV licence fee should be defined – or even if it should continue to be collected. Licence fee payments contribute to around 15% of SABC’s total income alongside commercial revenue. 

In early 2021, financial difficulties came to a head as staff committed to strikes against the broadcaster’s retrenchment process.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

SABC is a state-owned company – with the government as its sole shareholder – and is guided by corporate government codes. The corporation is governed and controlled by a 15-member (12 non-executive and three executive) board of directors, in accordance with the Broadcasting Act No. 4 of 1999.  

Licence fee payments contribute to around 15% of SABC’s total income alongside commercial revenue.  

SABC enjoys a 73.2% radio market share. According to the broadcaster, all adults (15+ years) spend 3 hours and 36 minutes listening to radio across all its stations, amounting to a 92% (37.5 million) weekly reach and a 73% daily reach (29.9 million) on weekdays. 

SABC’s management team recently concluded its Section 189 (Retrenchment) process. More than 600 employees were retrenched. As of 1 April, the public broadcaster begun implementing its new structure to focus on becoming a ‘fit-for-purpose’ public media organisation and secure its long term sustainability.

Read our latest report: SABC completes retrenchment process and transitions to new structure

Asia

KBS
South Korea

National Networks

4 terrestrial TV channels
2 satellite TV channel
7 radio channels

International Networks

KBS World Television
KBS World Radio

Online 

http://kbs.co.kr

Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)

Radio | Television | Online

#1

most trusted
media during
pandemic in
South Korea

50%

of South Koreans
use KBS Weekly

11

languages
available via
KBS World Radio

Overview

Updated: April 2021

Founded in 1927 and transformed into a public broadcaster in 1973, the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) is the largest of the three public broadcasters in South Korea, which also include the Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) and Munwha Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). All three organisations are supported by a licence fee, which has been set at 2,500 won per month since 1981 and levied alongside electricity fees. KBS also generates its own revenue through advertising although, in recent years, KBS has experienced financial difficulties with declining advertising revenue and the fixed licence fee rate. 

With 4 terrestrial TV channels, 2 satellite TV channels and 7 radio channels, KBS has the largest offline reach among South Korea’s broadcasters. It operates broadcasting systems in 9 major cities nationwide, with 50% of audiences turning to KBS every week. Its core values include trust, creativity and innovation.  

KBS is committed to maintaining its emergency and disaster broadcasting services. This was demonstrated in its continuous coverage of the recent typhoon in South Korea as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it launched the ‘COVID-19 Integrated Newsroom’ to help keep the nation informed with the latest COVID-19 information. Its extensive coverage placed KBS as the “most trusted media organisation and source of news among Korean viewers” during the pandemic. 

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

The fact that the Board of Governors and executives are appointed by the Korean President has raised concerns in recent years about the independence of KBS from the state. This has been recognised among KBS’ management and as a result, the public broadcaster has implemented measures, including amending the Broadcast Planning Regulation to better protect its independence. In its 2019 Annual Report, KBS stated:  

“In order to institutionally establish the autonomy and independence of broadcasting production, the Broadcast Planning Regulation was amended for the first time in 16 years. We increased institutional effectiveness by making Planning Committee meetings mandatory and newly implementing a regulation for executive director appointment approval. We also created a new provision to guarantee independence, making it clear that we must maintain our independence from external pressure and unfair interference.” 

KBS is funded by a licence fee that is levied alongside electricity fees. It also generates its own revenue through advertising.

Licence Fee: 2,500 won a month (the licence fee has been set at this price since 1981; however, recent proposals by the KBS Board of Directors considers increasing it to 3,840 won per month).

    • Licence Fee Income (end of 2019): 670.5 billion KRW 
    • Licence fee supplemented by advertisements.

KBS operates broadcasting stations in 9 major cities nationwide and broadcasting stations in 9 regions, and has opened overseas offices in 14 regions. 50% use KBS weekly (RISJ Digital News Report 2020).

50% trust in KBS News – 3rd highest online news brand (RISJ Digital News Report 2020). It was also considered the 2nd most trusted media outlet in South Korea in 2019 (The Korea Bizwire).

4, 701

During the COVID-19 pandemic, KBS launched the ‘COVID-19 Integrated Newsroom’ to help keep the nation informed with the latest COVID-19 information. Its extensive coverage placed KBS as the “most trusted media organisation and source of news among Korean viewers” during the pandemic in 2020.

KBS’ Board of Directors recently submitted a proposal to increase the licence fee to 3,840 won per month. If approved, this will be the first increase in the licence fee for 40 years. The fee has been earmarked at 2,500 won per month since 1981.

Read our latest report: Proposed licence fee amendments for public broadcasters in Japan and South Korea

NHK
Japan

National Networks

2 terrestrial TV channels
4 satellite TV channels
3 radio channels

International Networks

NHK WORLD-JAPAN (TV & radio, 17 languages)
NHK World Premium
NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN

Online 

www.nhk.or.jp

Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK)

Radio | Television | Online

60%

of audience
consider NHK
most trusted
outlet (RISJ)

160

Available in
160 countries

97.6%

total income
from receiving
fees

Overview

Updated: April 2021

NHK remains the country’s only public broadcaster amongst Japan’s large commercial media market. Since it was founded in 1925, emergency broadcasting has been at the forefront of NHK’s work, dedicating a considerable amount of its budget to broadcasting technology for disaster prevention, preparedness and reporting. As a result, NHK has proven itself to be the most watched and trusted source of news during natural disasters, which are highly common in Japan.  

Unlike other established public broadcasters in Asia, NHK is predominantly funded by a ‘receiving fee’, which ensures NHK’s financial and editorial independence. However, there has been growing discussion about proposed changes to the viewing fee due to evasion rates, relevance of NHK’s content as well as growing pressure placed on the broadcaster to reduce its cost (the full viewing fee is currently set at 24,770 yen per year).  

Regardless of recent challenges, NHK continues to make headway with technological advancements. At the start of 2020, legislation was finally enacted to enable NHK to simultaneously stream content on digital platforms and, ahead of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games, NHK began expanding its multi-lingual services and preparing to broadcast the games in 8k. 

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Ownership: Public

NHK is a statutory corporation chartered under the Broadcasting Act of 1950. Articles 28-30 of the Broadcasting Act also set out the establishment, authority, and organisation of NHK’s Board of Governors (the decision-making body for management policy and operations). According to NHK, “The governors are approved by both houses of the Diet on behalf of the people of Japan and are appointed by the Prime Minister.” While annual budgets are also approved by the diet, NHK is an independent legal entity, funded by its viewers. 

  • Receiving fee: 13,990 yen per year (terrestrial); 24,770 yen per year (satellite)
    Received 699.5 billion yen from receiving fees (97.6%) of total operating income (FY 2018)
  • 54 Domestic broadcasting stations; 31 overseas offices.
  • NHK WORLD PREMIUM reaches approximately 20 million households in over 100 countries
  • 6 Domestic TV Channels:
    • Two terrestrial TV channels: General TV and Educational TV; Four satellite TV channels: BS 1, BS Premium, BS4K and BS8K
    • 3 radio channels: Radio 1, Radio 2 and FM
  • External channels:
    • NHK WORLD-JAPAN (English TV channel and Radio service for 17 languages); NHK WORLD PREMIUM (Japanese TV channel); NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN (Japanese Radio service)

10,333

NHK WORLD-JAPAN operates in 17 languages

Proposals have recently been put forward to decrease the cost of NHK’s licence fee by around 10% for fiscal year 2023. Plans have already been announced to cut NHK’s managerial staff by around 30% to help make up for the shortfall in revenue from the proposed reduction, among other cost-cutting measures.

Read our latest report: Proposed licence fee amendments for public broadcasters in Japan and South Korea

 

PTS
Taiwan

National Networks

Hakka TV channel
Taiwanese-language channel

Online

www.pts.org.tw
https://www.peopo.org/
https://www.ptsplus.tv/

Public Television Service (PTS)

Television | Online

#1

trusted source
of news in
Taiwan

94/100

Taiwan's 2020
Freedom House
score for freedom

1/3

of online PTS
traffic derived
from PeoPo

Overview

Updated: March 2021

The idea for public media in Taiwan had been brewing for several years before the launch of PTS in 1998, when it became Taiwan’s first independent public broadcaster. Since then, it has steadily developed into becoming the most trusted media brand in Taiwan (53% voted in favour of trusting PTS in RISJ’s Digital News Report 2020).  

Since its launch, a central role of PTS has been to represent the diversity of Taiwan and promote democratic values. As part of its mission, PTS states that: “PTV belongs to all the people and does not exclusively serve the government or a certain political party; it is not for profit, nor is it subject to commercial or interest groups. PTV, as the name implies, is a television media whose purpose is to receive entrusted by the whole people and serve the public interest.” 

PTS has also led the way for multiplatform and public engagement initiatives in Asia with its citizen journalism platform, People Post or ‘PeoPo’. Launched in 2007, PeoPo has been vital in improving digital media literacy and helping to put the public at the heart of public media by engaging them in citizen-led news coverage. 

Even though Taiwan maintains relatively high levels of media freedom, it experiences some interference from China. That said, there have been signs of pushback against growing influence, such as the recent decision by the media regulator not to renew the broadcast licence of pro-China TV news channel, Chung T’en News over disinformation claims.  

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

The PTS Act was legalised in 1997. The law stipulated the major mandate and performance of Taiwan’s public service broadcaster, and editorial guidelines were ratified by staff and management. This has since been continuously documented by PTS’ Board of Governors from 2005 onwards.

Amendments to the Broadcasting and Television Act, Cable Television Act, and Satellite Broadcasting Act in 2003 also ensure that government, political parties, and elected party officials cannot invest in broadcasting and television industries. PTS’ funding model also ensures that it remains independent from political or commercial interference. 

PTS has received a fixed annual appropriation since the PTS Act was legalised. Since 2003, other government grants are regularly disbursed into annual operation based on the projects of digitalisation proposed by the public broadcaster.  

To avoid relying on the government as a source of income, PTS Taiwan supplements government donations by self-funding through commercial sponsorship by public or private organisations that do not interfere with the nature of its programming; personal donations through the ‘Friends of Public Television’ membership system and other activities including programme marketing and studio rentals. Three special grants also come from the Cable Radio & Television Development Fund, the Divestment of Shares in Terrestrial Television Act, and funding by the Development of National Languages Act. 

Total revenue (2019): NTD 2,224,864,868 (USD 74,211,636). 

Government grants included = NTD 900,000,000 (USD30,020,013) 

In 2020, three PTS executives stepped down from their positions following a dispute about a new international programming platform that the Ministry of Culture originally proposed to be hosted by PTS. 

Thai PBS

National Networks

 

International Networks

Thai PBS World

Online 

www.thaipbs.or.th

Thai Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Radio | Television | Online

13

years since it
became an
established PSB

3

New online
channels for
real-time
Covid-19 updates

2 billion THB

received from
'Sin tax' funding
mechanism
per year

Overview

Updated: February 2021

Established in 2008, Thai PBS is one of the newest public broadcasters established worldwide. Its commitment to being a trusted public media institution lies with its strong public broadcasting ethos: “To encourage public awareness and participation in the building of a just and democratic society through bold and impartial reporting with public interest at its heart.”

The independence of Thai PBS is supported under the Public Broadcasting Service Act of Thailand 2008, which protects it from political or commercial influence. The Act established Thailand’s first non-profit public media organisation, which also supports social development. Thai PBS hosts and supports many social and cultural campaigns, including educational resources and activities that bring society together.

Thai PBS strongly believes that public participation is a key part of public broadcasting. It operates a citizen journalism initiative called C-site, which enables the general public to report on issues that matter to them while increasing the organisation’s citizen engagement. An audience council supports independent producers while a societal network helps to support the development of Thai PBS, known as ‘Friends of Thai PBS’.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Alongside the Public Broadcasting Service Act 2008, Thai PBS has a policy committee, which has been selected through an independent and transparent process.

Thai PBS receives income from excise taxes, also known as ‘sin tax’, which is collected from liquor and tobacco sales. The tax is earmarked between 1.5 – 1.8 percent, and does not exceed THB 2 billion per year.

In its 14th year, Thai PBS has sharpened its focus on audience engagement, putting the ‘audience first’ and at the heart of its public broadcaster.

Thai PBS also contributes to society through social and cultural campaigns and initiatives. It recently launched a new educational resource called the ‘Learning Shelf’.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai public broadcaster launched three new online channels dedicated to real-time updates, including a section for its citizen journalism initiative.

Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific

ABC

National Networks

4 national radio networks
56 local radio stations
6 digital radio stations
4 TV channels

International Networks

ABC Australia; English language
international television service
aimed at Asia-Pacific region

ABC Radio Australia; international
satellite and internet radio service
aimed at Asia-Pacific region

Online 

Abc.net.au
TV catch up service (iview)
ABC News and Current Affairs Online
ABC Open
Mobile apps

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Radio | Television | Online

67.6%

total national
reach across
all platforms
in 2020

296 hrs

rolling bushfire
coverage
31 Dec 2019 -
13 Jan 2020

766,000

people used ABC
Education portal
in April 2020

Overview

Updated: February 2021

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s largest public broadcaster. It had a combined national reach of 67.6% across television, radio and online of in 2020.

ABC plays a central role during national crises and emergencies with a dedicated emergency service, website and app for preparation, mitigation and coverage. During the bushfire season of 2019-20, Australians turned to their national public broadcaster for trusted news and information, with 73% of people acting on ABC emergency broadcasts. With extensive emergency coverage across television, radio and online services, the broadcaster provided accurate, reliable and emergency coverage to help keep communities safe, despite staff working under incredible pressure and precarious conditions. Between 31 December 2019 and 13 January 2020, the broadcaster covered over 200 emergency events, more than any other broadcaster.

ABC is also dedicated to catering for indigenous audiences by providing news and information relevant to indigenous communities in Australia. Both this service and its multilingual services have helped the organisation’s news services reach new audiences across the continent and the wider Pacific region during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

ABC independence is assured by the ABC Board under the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983. The Managing Director is the Editor-in-Chief who has ultimate editorial power and responsibility.

The organisation receives state subsidies allocated by the Federal Government while maintaining its editorial independence.

Government funding:

2019-2020: A$1,062.3 million – up 1.6% from prior year

2018-2019: A$1,045.9 million – – up 0.2% from prior year

2017-2018: A$1,043.7 million

Other funding sources, including ABC Commercial:

2019-2020: Other funding sources not yet published.

2018-2019: A$62.5 million – down 4% from prior year

2017-2018: A$65.1 million

Source: ABC.net.au

72% of Australians agree that ABC News is the ‘most trusted source of news and current affairs’ in Australia’ (Australian Broadcasting Corporation Annual Report 2020).

A breakdown of reach across all platforms:

Television

Broadcast television has a reach of 19.4 million Australians each week

(OzTAM and Regional TAM, ABC.net.au)

Radio

Total ABC Radio average weekly reach in the five-city metropolitan markets was 4.92 million aged 10+, up 128,000 listeners on the 2017-2018 result (up 2.7%)

(abc.net.au)

ABC Online

The average monthly reach of ABC Online in Australia was 11.0 million or 45% of Australians.

(Nielsen DCR, ABC.net.au)

ABC News (2020)

TV and radio have a 41% weekly use and 29% for more than 3 days per week

Online has a weekly use of 23%, and 15% more than 3 days per week

http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/survey/2020/australia-2020/

ABC International

Each month, ABC International reaches a unique overseas audience of 10,967,000 through broadcast television, radio and ABC websites and apps.

ABC Australia: The international television service is available in 40+ markets across the Asia Pacific and the Indian Subcontinent. It has a monthly viewership of at least 2,183,000

ABC Radio Australia: There are 407,000 listeners of ABC Radio Australia each month in the Pacific.

In 2018-2019 there were 8.6 million online streams of ABC radio services by international audiences. This equates to 6% of global streams

(Webtrends, Google Analytics, abc.net.au)

ABC Websites and apps:

Each month there are 8,981,000 users.

(https://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-international-reaches-close-to-11-million-each-month-on-television-radio-and-online/)

ABC has a dedicated emergency website

For more information about their extensive coverage, click here.

As part of its core remit to educate, ABC expanded its educational services during school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic by producing additional curriculum-linked content for children of all ages. It also provided additional online support through the ABC Education portal, which saw 766,000 users in April 2020 – an increase of 239% compared with the same time last year.

RNZ

National Networks

RNZ National
RNZ Concert
Parliamentary channel

International Networks

RNZ Pacific

Online 

www.rnz.co.nz

Radio New Zealand (RNZ)

Radio | Online

75%

of New Zealanders
used RNZ
in 2019

89%

of audience
trust RNZ
2019

145%

Daily traffic
growth during
COVID19

Overview

Updated: April 2021

Established in 1995, RNZ is the only commercial-free public service broadcaster in New Zealand. Despite its relatively young age, RNZ has the highest level of trust of any media organisation in the country and an extensive reach both domestically and overseas.

RNZ sets out to make its content “challenging, innovative and engaging.” Its flagship channel, RNZ National, provides news, current affairs, feature documentaries and entertainment. In its commitment to reflect and promote New Zealand’s cultural and ethnic diversity, RNZ also provides Maori-specific broadcasts and online content. It is also a key international broadcaster in the South Pacific. Through RNZ Pacific, the public broadcaster provides news and programming to the Pacific region, with 21 Pacific broadcasters re-broadcasting RNZ Pacific. In 2019, it broadcast 8,723 hours of Pacific content.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the public broadcaster received high ratings for its coverage: it recorded an increase in traffic to the RNZ website at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, up 114% from February.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

RNZ is mostly government funded with a small proportion of its income generated from third party revenue.
  • Government funding: $43,375,000 (2018: $38,959,000)
  • Other revenue: $2,263,000 (2018: $2,350,000)
    (Other revenue consists of rental revenue from property leases, co-siting revenue, interest income and other income)

RNZ National and Concert are funded by New Zealand On Air (an independent government funding agency) and RNZ Pacific is funded by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Source: RNZ Annual Report 2019

Summary

75% of New Zealanders consumed RNZ content in the last year

RNZ’s total weekly audience in June 2019 was estimated at 1,017,393 across all platforms

Combined weekly unique radio and online people who use any of our services: 1,017,393 (2017-2018: 845,945)
Radio

Among all radio listening in New Zealand, RNZ National has a market share of 12.6% for 2020 (2019: 11.7%)

  • RNZ National: Weekly cumulative audience in 2020 = 654,300 (2018-2019 = 626,900; 2017-2018 =606,300)
  • RNZ Concert: Weekly cumulative audience in 2020 = 242,600 (2018-2019 = 172,600)
  • RNZ National and RNZ Concert (combined): Weekly cumulative audience in 2020 = 760,300, or 16.3% of the NZ population (2018-2019 = 694,700, 2017-2018 =682,700)

Source: GfK Radio Audience Measurement, All Radio Stations, rnz.co.nz

Online

By June 2019 more than 793,000 users were accessing rnz.co.nz weekly, 32% up year-on-year

Average monthly users of RNZ’s websites: 2,555,310 (2017-2018: 1,968,578)

Source: Google Analytics, rnz.co.nz

International

Number of Pacific Island radio stations incorporating RNZ services: 21 stations (2017-2018: 17 stations) Source: RNZ internal data, rnz.co.nz

Page-views of RNZ Pacific International website: 7,990,370 (2017-2018: 6,429,885) Source: Google Analytics, rnz.co.nz

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Online Audiences for rnz.co.nz:
  • In a typical month in 2019 almost 3 million users visited the RNZ website.  As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic traffic increased to 7.23million in March, up 114% from February
  • On an average week in 2019 847,000 users visited RNZ.co.nz. In the two weeks when the lockdown was announced traffic increased to 2.75m and 3.03m respectively
  • Daily traffic has grown to 394,000 users since New Zealand’s first case of Covid-19 was announced, up from 161,000 users on a typical day last year       (increase of 145%)

Source: Google Analytics, RNZ.co.nz

App

During 2019 the RNZ app attracted 52,000 users each week, this has increased to 72,000 in 2020, and reached 101,000 during lockdown

Facebook

Last year RNZ’s Facebook channel typically had 553,000 users each week, so far in 2020 RNZ’s Facebook audience has grown to 936k. In the past five weeks user numbers have ranged from 1.2 million and 2.4 million

  • Podcast and audio content downloads/streams
  • Downloads of podcasts and other audio from the RNZ website reached 1.8 million last month, up from 1.55m in February
  • Plays/downloads of RNZ content on other platforms also shows impressive growth in February (797,000), March (1,096,000) and April (1,144,000)
  • In 2019, users of rnz.co.nz streamed 61,000 pieces of audio content each week.  Since lockdown this has increased to more than 90,000, almost 50% higher than last year

 

https://www.rnz.co.nz/about/audience-research

After discussions about a new public media entity in New Zealand were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have recently re-emerged. The new public media entity would replace RNZ and government-owned, commercial broadcaster, Television New Zealand (TVNZ). A Government Group, consisting of a group of eight media experts, established in March, has been tasked with exploring the viability of a new public media entity. However there are concerns about its potential mixed model funding structure and independence.

Read our latest report: Group of experts to develop case for new public media entity in New Zealand

Europe

DR

National Networks

5 TV channels
7 radio stations

Online 

DRTV – streaming
TV catch-up service
(for audiences in
Denmark, Greenland and
the Faroe Islands)
Digital radio streaming
service

https://www.dr.dk/

Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR)

Radio | Television | Online

#1

most trusted
news brand
in Denmark

#3

ranked third
in RSF's World
Press Freedom
index (2020)

DKK 428m

worth of cuts
implemented in
2019

Overview

Updated: April 2021

Hailed as Denmark’s only fully licence-financed radio and television station, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation was founded in 1925 as a public service organisation.

With its public service remit enshrined in law, the broadcaster provides the Danish population with a wide range of programmes and services, including information, news dissemination, art and entertainment, and teaching. DR has also emphasised that its content must be versatile, diverse, and of quality. Together with eight other Nordic public broadcasters, DR is also a member of the Nordic PSM cooperative, Nordvision, which focuses on technological innovation and collaborating on high-quality productions.

In 2019, 93.1% used one or more of DR’s offers weekly. DR News is the most trusted news brand in Denmark and has the most reach across television, radio, and online, according to RISJ’s 2020 Digital News Report.

For the broadcaster, its licence framework means it must work in “the service of the people”. However, this framework is set for abolition after a 2018 parliamentary vote scrapped the mandatory licence fee. The fee will be phased out until 2022 when “public service” will instead be financed through a tax. A 20% budget cut was also approved. This cut was expected to negatively impact DR’s public service remit and limit its reach and media pluralism in Denmark, however the full extent of the cuts were averted through the Fiscal Act of 2021 – more details in the funding section below.

As part of its COVID-19 response, DR focused on reassuring young people and increased its news content, such as Ultra Nyt (Ultra News), to help children make sense of the pandemic.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Publicly owned

All persons above the age of 18 who own a licensed device (radio, television sets, and internet access) are required by law to pay a licence fee.

2020 licence fee cost: DKK 676.50 semi-annually (DKK 112.75 monthly)
2019 licence fee cost: DKK 963.50 semi-annually (DKK 160.58 monthly)

Source: Executive Order on media license

In March 2018, a decision was made to gradually phase out the licence fee until 2022. From then, “public service” will instead be financed through a tax. In the same year, the Danish government and the Danish People’s Party (DF) approved a budget cut that would reduce DR’s overall expenditure by 20% across five years, which was expected to negatively impact its public service remit and the future of media plurality in Denmark. By 2023, it was expected that there would be a cut of DKK 689 million.

DR implemented the first phase of the cuts through a “savings and development plan” for the 2019-2021 period, which amounted to DKK 428 million. However, the full extent of the cuts were considerably reduced following the election of the social democratic government in 2019, according to DR’s December 6 2020 newsletter. While DR undertook the first phase, the new government and supporting parties passed the Fiscal Act for 2021 in which the second phase of cuts were abandoned.

DR is managed by an 11-member executive board appointed for a period of four years. The Minister of Culture appoints three of its members (including the chairman), Parliament appoints six, and DR employees appoint two. According to DR, “The Executive Board has the overall responsibility for the financial management of DR and for ensuring that the regulations of the Radio and Television Broadcasting Act are respected. The Executive Board also establishes the guidelines for DR’s activities and appoints the members of the Management Board.”

According to RISJ’s 2020 Digital News Report, DR News is the most trusted news brand in Denmark and has the most reach across television, radio, and online. In 2019, 93.1% used one or more of DR’s offers weekly.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, DR focused on reassuring young people and began by increasing Ultra Nyt (Ultra News), “its daily new programme for nine to 14-year-olds, starting with a package explaining COVID-19 to its audience.” Ultra Nyt typically airs on DR TV (DR’s on-demand service) but moved to the main channel DR1 and at a primetime slot to cater to children and their parents by providing them with news on what was happening in Denmark and abroad. DR also “produced segments on how children could talk to parents about the pandemic and deal with fear during such turbulent times” (EBU 2020, Media Case Studies).

France Télévision

National Networks

5 TV channels

International Networks

La 1 ere – for overseas
French territories, 9 overseas branches.
Each has a television channel,
radio station and local website.

Online

https://www.france.tv/
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/

France Télévisions (FT)

Radio | Television | Online

28.9%

audience share
in 2019

2/3

children engage
with at least one
youth programme

€160m

must cut
costs by 2022

Overview

Updated: February 2021

France Télévisions is the leading French broadcaster with nearly 30% of the country’s audience share. The public television group functions with a public service mandate and it’s values include: independence, universality, innovation and reliability of information. Its diverse offerings of channels and networks provide audiences with content across television, radio, and online.

FT places priority on education and over the years has launched initiatives aimed at children and young adults, such as the ten programmes it produced to tackle disinformation. The broadcaster’s educational focus was notable during the COVID-19 pandemic; its dedicated educational offer Lumni reached nearly 5 million children aged four to 14 in the first three months of lockdown.

FT is funded by an audiovisual licence fee, which is used to support all French public broadcasters. However, its funding has been threatened in recent years. FT is still grappling with a €160 million cost-cutting strategy announced in 2018. FT’s international channel France Ô closed in 2020 while France 4, its channel for children and young people, is scheduled to close this year. The pandemic and the subsequent postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympics – which are expected to cause a €55 million loss in advertising revenue – have dealt further blows to the broadcaster.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

While France Télévisions is state-owned, its independence is assured in part by the fact it is funded through a licence fee. 

“The board of directors of France Télévisions has internal regulations which govern the operation and powers of this body and set up three specialized committees as well as a commitments subcommittee.” 

FT receives the majority of its funding from the Public Audiovisual Contribution (CAP) – what was previously the audiovisual licence fee. This is used to support all French public broadcasters. All individuals that are eligible to pay housing tax and own a television set must pay the 139 euros per year tax. Additional income comes from advertising revenue.

FT’s budget for 2018 was €2.8 billion.

Proposals to amend the audio-visual law, which would create a public media “superstructure” to bring together Radio France, France Television France Médias Monde and The National Audiovisual Institute (INA) under one holding company, ‘France Médias’ were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RTÉ
Ireland

National Networks

3 national TV channels
4 national radio stations

Digital Services

RTÉ Player (on-demand television service)
RTÉ Radio Player (live and on-demand radio service)

Online 

https://www.rte.ie/

Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)

Radio | Television | Online

#1

remains most
trusted source
of news in ROI

80.3%

RTÉ One has
an audience
reach of 80.3%

35%

more 15-34s
are watching
RTÉ in 2020

Overview

Updated: January 2021

As Ireland’s national public broadcaster, RTÉ’s main mission is “to enrich Irish life with content that challenges, educates and entertains”, while its key values include being “outward looking, creative, respectful, sustainable and accountable, collaborative and transparent…”

RTÉ has a commitment to making content accessible for people living with disabilities and provides Irish Sign Language in several of its programming. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it also made at home-learning opportunities available for children while schools remained shut as well as creating accessible content for children about COVID-19.

The broadcaster is dual-funded by a licence fee and commercial revenue. However, in recent years, RTÉ has faced significant financial insecurity with an inefficient licence fee collection service and, more recently, the decline in advertising revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. A public service broadcasting commission is also due to begin; its purpose is to review the future of PSB in Ireland.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

RTÉ is a statutory body overseen by a board appointed by the Republic of Ireland’s government.

RTÉ is dual funded. It is part-funded by the Licence Fee, which costs €160 a year. Any household with a television set must pay. Money goes to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which then provides RTÉ with 85% of the amount. The remaining income comes from advertising and other commercial activities.

Breakdown of 2018 revenue:

Commercial Revenue: €150,000,000 (2017: €151,500,000)

Licence Fee Revenue: €189,100,000 (2017: €186,100,000)

Total Revenue: €339,100,000 (2017: €337,600,000)

RTÉ One has a reach of 80.3% and a share of 21 (October 2020). RTÉ is reaching over 2 million radio listeners (2,004,000) every week, representing 51% of the adult 15+ population. This is an increase of 26,000 people tuning in since the last JNLR release and 20,000 more on this time last year on year.

Meanwhile, 55% of Irish adults use a digital service from RTÉ every week. According to the B&A Survey published in November 2019, RTÉ.ie is the Number 1 multi-media website in Ireland, used by 38% of Irish adults and 13 million monthly unique browsers.

RTÉ also remains the most trusted source of news amongst Irish adults (77%).

According to TRP research released in May 2020, RTÉ was considered the most recognised brand for supporting the nation during the COVID-19 crisis.

3.9 million individuals or 90% of the Irish TV population tuned in to RTÉ’s television services over the 11-week period (2nd March to 17th May 2020). It was also a widely used source among younger viewers, with 35% more 15-34s are watching RTÉ, and 30% more children tuning in.

At 31 December 2018, there were 1,822 employees.

SVT

National 

4 digital TV Channels 

Online/Digital Services

Svt.se 

SVT Play (online streaming service) 

Mobile apps 

Swedish Television (SVT)

Television | Online

20+

languages
available across
SVT platforms

#1

trusted news
brand in
Sweden

81%

reach in
2019

Overview

Updated: April 2021

With approximately 2,100 permanent staff across more than 30 locations, Sveriges Television (SVT) is Sweden’s public service television company and hosts the widest range of programming of all TV outlets in the country. SVT operates with public service in mind and describes itself as being run independently. 

SVT’s independence is guaranteed by the Förvaltningsstiftelsen, a management foundation created in 1997 to promote the independence of Swedish public broadcasting. The publicly funded foundation acts as a buffer between the broadcasters, the Riksdag (legislature) and the government. 

Public funding is an essential mechanism which ensures SVT’s independence. Like other Swedish public media, SVT is funded through a public service fee, of which it receives 58.9%.  

SVT is the most trusted news brand in Sweden, according to RISJ’s Digital News Report 2020. Since 2014, SVT has achieved just under its target of 90% reach and in 2019, its reach was 81%.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has solidified SVT’s value to society. SOM Institute’s special survey for the spring period of the pandemic showed that 81% of those surveyed expressed very high or fairly high confidence in SVT’s content, the highest rating a media company has received for its content in a SOM survey. In April 2021, SVT revealed that it had risen to 76% of trust in the annual SOM Institute Survey.  

SVT has also shared its plan to invest more heavily in local journalism.  

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Public 

SVT is a limited company owned by Förvaltningsstiftelsen, a foundation funded by the public. The foundation was created in 1997 to promote the independence of Sweden’s three public broadcasters by acting as a buffer between them and the Riksdag (legislature) and the government. While its 13-member board is formally appointed following proposals from the political parties, active members of the Riksdag cannot serve as members of the foundation. The foundation is responsible for appointing SR’s 9-member board (one chairman and eight members). 

SVT is funded through a public service fee that was introduced in January 2019 due to the belief that radio and television play a key role in public service and must therefore be funded collectively, regardless of someone’s individual usage. The fee is collected via the “tax slip”, which charges 1% of the taxable earned income of anyone over the age of 18, up to a ceiling of SEK 1,300 per person annually. 

SVT receives 58.9% of the public service fee. Most of SVT’s income comes from the tax (SEK 5.100 million in 2019) while it receives other income from sponsoring, royalties, co-productions, appropriation, products, technology, and licences (SEK 303 million in 2019). SVT’s programming is non–commercial and advertising is not allowed. However, the sponsorship of sports events is permitted.

Since 2014, SVT has achieved just under its target of 90% reach (in 2019, its reach was 81%). In 2019, the average person used SVT for 53 minutes a day. SVT produces just over 22,000 hours of TV programs, with over 3,200 hours of local news.  

SVT ranks consistently well, with very large or fairly large value for society (68% in 2019); very large or fairly large value for individuals (59% in 2019); a very high or fairly high confidence in SVT (77% in 2019); and knowledge about SVT’s existing services (93% in 2019). 

With the pandemic, “the proportion of people who regard SVT as having a “fairly or very high value for society” has risen by 10% to 79%.” In a survey, which took place between April and July 2020, 81% expressed very high or fairly high confidence in SVT’s content. This is the highest rating a media company has received for its content in a SOM survey. Confidence increases in all groups, regardless of age, party sympathies or whether you live in the city or in the countryside, SVT said. 

As part of its plans to invest more heavily in local journalism, SVT said that it will open four new newsrooms in 2021 in Fagersta, Flemingsberg, Lund, and Sveg. Within three years, the public broadcaster intends to expand with ten new newsrooms so that SVT’s reporters are available in 50 locations around the country. 

Along with other Nordic public media, SVT is collaborating to produce a stronger and better range of children’s content, with 14 new series a year.  

SVT’s role: https://omoss.svt.se/var-roll.html 

SVT’s channels and services: https://omoss.svt.se/var-roll/kanaler-och-tjanster.html 

SVT’s facts and figures on special assignments and target groups: https://siffror.svt.se/sarskilda-uppdrag-och-malgrupper.html 

SVT’s mission: https://omoss.svt.se/var-roll/organisation.html 

Info on Corporate Governance: https://omoss.svt.se/var-roll/organisation/bolagsstyrning.html 

SVT’s apps information: https://omoss.svt.se/var-roll/kanaler-och-tjanster/svts-appar.html 

Page and video on figures: https://omoss.svt.se/var-roll/siffror.html 

How SVT uses its income: https://siffror.svt.se/sa-anvands-pengarna.html 

Figures on how SVT performs in specific areas (trust, quality, knowledge of its services, etc.): https://siffror.svt.se/det-har-vill-svt.html 

SOM’s special survey: https://omoss.svt.se/arkiv/nyhetsarkiv/2020-10-07-historiskt-hogt-fortroende-for-svts-innehall.html 

National 

5 regional language units (RSI, RTR, RTS, SRF and SWI)

See more under ‘Services’

Radio Networks

17 radio channels (split across different language regions)

Television Networks

7 television channels (split across different language regions)

Online/Digital Services

srf.ch, rts.ch, rsi.ch, rtr.ch, swi.ch, nouvo.ch

Play Suisse

Social media

International

Swissinfo.ch (SWI)

French-language programmes via TV5Monde

German-language programmes via 3Sat

Italian-language programmes via tvsvizzera.it

Additional services

Teletext

Hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV)

Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR)

Radio | Television | Online

95%

SRG SSR
share of the
licence fee

13

languages via
regional broadcast
channels & swissinfo.ch

60%

weekly reach
via television

Overview

Updated: April 2021

According to SRG SSR, it is a private media company and a non-profit organisation with a commitment to public service. It says it is politically and financially independent. Its services are based on the values of “diversity, quality, independence, responsibility, dialogue, creativity”. In its 2019 annual report, SRG SSR writes, “SRG media inform, entertain, and also have an educational function. They distribute their services round the clock on the same terms to everyone in Switzerland, no matter where they are, via radio, television, the Internet, HbbTV, teletext and mobile technologies. Services meet the needs of minorities and the mainstream alike and cover a broad range of issues. They also stand out in terms of their quality, relevance and variety.”

The broadcasting organisation has a federalist structure, with five enterprise units: Radiotelevisione svizzera (RSI) – Italian-language speaking population of Switzerland, Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha (RTR) – Romansch-speaking population of Switzerland, Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) – French-speaking population of Switzerland, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) – German-speaking population of Switzerland, and SWI swissinfo.ch (SWI).

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

The 2006 Swiss Radio and Television Act (RTVG) and other relevant regulation ensure independence from the state, and SRG SSR’s Charter provides guidance for the public broadcasters’ tasks and editorial and journalistic standards. While the government specifies activities, funding and organisation, according to SRG SSR, it is the Swiss Federal Constitution that guarantees the public broadcaster’s independence and “prevents anybody from interfering in our editorial work.”

SRG SSR is funded by a combination of a licence fee (primary source – about 78% of funding) and revenue from commercial offerings such as sponsorships and advertisements (secondary source – 22% of funding). SRG SSR says it is the largest media house in Switzerland with a turnover of CHF 1.5 billion (SRG SSR, Facts and Figures 19/20). When it comes to distribution of revenue, Gilles Marchand, CEO of SRG SSR, said: “It should be pointed out that we have a very unusual equalisation system here in Switzerland: the German-speaking areas generate 73% of SRG revenues (advertising and licence fees) and retain 45%. The Italian-speaking region generates 4% and receives 22%. Meanwhile, the French-speaking part generates 23% and receives 32%.”

“No billag”

SRG SSR faced a threat to its funding in 2018 with the “No Billag” referendum. The Swiss public was asked to vote whether to remove the Swiss licence fee (Billag) for radio and TV, of which the public broadcaster benefits from 95% while 34 private radio stations and TV channels benefit 5%. With the referendum, 71.6% of voters rejected the removal of the fee. While this was ultimately a win for SRG SSR, there were consequences of the referendum whereby in 2018, the broadcaster had to undertake a cost-cutting reorganisation to save at least 100 million Swiss francs. PMA reported, “In April 2019, a series of cost cutting measures were announced including the integration of particular units as well as the potential loss of 40 jobs, including 20 through layoffs and early retirement.” The 2019 financial year saw the licence fee income fall by CHF50 million. Meanwhile, In April 2020, parliament agreed to increase the broadcaster’s funding by CHF50 million to CHF1.25 billion per year. However, CEO Marchand does not foresee this funding injection as sufficient to cover future lost revenues. From 1 January 2019, a new device-independent radio and TV fee was applied to households and companies. “For households, the radio and tv contribution will amount to 365 francs a year. For companies with an annual turnover of over 500,000 francs, the yearly contribution will vary between 365 and 35,590 francs a year, depending on their turnover,” SRG SSR said.

> Radio broadcast output: Three stations each for the German, French and Italian language regions (Radio SRF 1, Radio SRF 2, Radio SRF 3, La Première, Espace 2, Couleurs 3, Rete Uno, Rete Due, Rete Tre); one Rhaeto-Romansh station (Radio Rumantsch); one younger listener station for German-speaking Switzerland (SRF Radio Virus); one German-speaking information station (SRF 4 News); one station each for the German and French language regions, which gives a broad platform for folk music culture Radio (“SRF Musikwelle” – German, “Option Musique” – French); one music station each for classical, jazz and pop for all language regions, with Swiss artists accounting for a share of at least 50 percent (Radio Swiss Classic, Radio Swiss Jazz).

> Television broadcast output: Two channels each for the German, French and Italian language regions in HD quality (SRF 1, SRF 2, RTS 1, RTS 2, RSI LA 1, RSI LA 2); Programmes in Rhaeto-Romansh on SRF 1, SRF Info, RTS 1, RSI LA 1, RSI LA 2; One German-language repeat programme (SRF Info); online television in all language regions, with continuously updated information and programme information without advertising and without sponsorship (SRF Play, RTS Play, RSI Play, RTR Play, SWI Play)

> Other services: Teletext, a publishing service for outside Switzerland (swissinfo.ch; French-language programmes on TV5Monde, German-language programmes on 3Sat, and Italian-language programmes on tvsvizzera.it); online services (such as srf.ch, rts.ch, rsi.ch, rtr.ch, swi.ch, nouvo.ch, apps, and social media), and hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV).

Reach: SRG’s television channels reach 60% of the Swiss population every week, and its radio stations reach 61%. 33% of Swiss citizens access SRG’s online services every week.

Trust: RTS News is the most trusted Swiss French media outlet (76%) and SRF News is the most trusted Swiss German media outlet (also 76%) according to the Reuters’ Institute Digital News Report 2020.

Languages: Italian (RTI), Romansch (RTR), French (RTS), and German (SRF). Also, English, Russian, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and Japanese via SWI (Swissinfo.ch).

SRG SRR has around 6,000 employees (subsidiaries not included).

As with many European public broadcasters that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, SRG SSR said in September 2020 that further job cuts were unavoidable due to continually declining revenues from the licence fee and advertising. The public broadcaster has also fleshed out future strategy details to meet evolving media consumption demands. In November 2020, the public broadcaster also launched a new streaming platform called Play Suisse featuring content produced by RSI, RTR, RTS and SRF.

ZDF
Germany

National Networks

1 main channel
2 specialist channels
3 radio stations (shared)

International Networks

ARTE – German-French corporation
3sat – European satellite television project
19 International bureaus

Online 

VOD service
5 dedicated websites 

www.zdf.de

Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)

Radio | Television | Online

11

Germany's
2020 world
press freedom
ranking (RSF)

86%

of audience
trust ZDF's
pandemic coverage

90%

Funding from
household
fee

Overview

Updated: April 2021

Television broadcaster, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) is the second public broadcasting corporation to be formed in Germany. It was launched in 1963, 13 years after the main working group of regional broadcasters, ARD. Today, ZDF is one of Germany’s leading information services. 

ZDF has a public service mandate to inform, educate, and entertain its audiences through quality market leadership. It offers a family of channels and has several partner channels, including 3sat (a ZDF–ARD, ORF (Austria), SRF (partnership), Deutschlandradio, KiKA, PHOENIX (ZDF–ARD partnership), and ARTE (German-French partnership). 

ZDF gains most of its funding from the €17.50 household fee alongside advertising revenue. The funding collection method by household has come under fire. However, in 2018, Germany’s top court ruled that the monthly fee collection based by household is constitutional.  

Public broadcasters like ZDF are among the most trusted news media. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen increased trust in public media in Germany: 86% of German PSM TV news viewers say they trust pandemic coverage from ZDF and ARD.  

The pandemic has also seen higher audience figures for ZDF. Viewership has increased in all genres, particularly in the areas of news, reports, talks, magazines, and documentaries. For instance, ZDF television news has reached approximately 37 million people per week during the pandemic. ZDF’s usage across all platforms has also increased. ZDF is the most watched German TV broadcaster and has experienced record market shares in the past year. 

Read more: Licence fee increase for German public broadcasters rejected (8 January 2021)

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Ownership: Public 

ZDF is managed as an independent non-profit corporation under the authority of Germany’s sixteen states. Its 60-member governing body, the ZDF Television Council, represents the general public’s interests while its 14-member Administrative Council is responsible for budget control and corporate guidelines. 

€17.50 household fee funds 90% of ZDF’s program work – ZDF’s monthly share of the household fee is €4.36. To supplement its income, ZDF relies on advertising and sponsorship.  

2019 funding breakdown: 

€1,918 million income from broadcasting fees 

€173 million income from television advertising 

€139 million other income, including sponsorship  

Source: https://www.zdf.de/zdfunternehmen/factsandfigures-100.html

ZDF audience share for Free TV in Germany: 13% (2019) 

In January 2021, ZDF achieved a market share of 15.1% – this is the highest value in January since 1995. 

86% of German public media TV news users rate the corona crisis coverage of ARD and ZDF as trustworthy – the highest attributed credibility of all media on offer.

3,600 permanent employees and a similar number of freelancers in Mainz and Berlin offices and across 16 domestic and 19 foreign studios. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ZDF has provided special broadcasts for COVID-19 updates and educational and home-schooling content amid school closures. ZDF has also announced measures that the organisation would be taking to help fund producers contributing to its content by paying for half of the additional costs in light of the coronavirus outbreak. 

Most recently, a planned increase in the household fee was rejected despite the financial pressures facing public broadcasters. This has caused many of the public broadcasters to implement cost-cutting measures to make up for a shortfall in projected funding.

Read our latest report: How are German public broadcasters responding to the rejection of the licence fee increase?

North America

CBC/Radio-Canada

National Networks

27 television stations
88 radio stations

International Networks

TV5Monde
6 foreign bureaux
SiriumXM Satellite Radio partnership

Online 

www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/en
CBC Player
CBC Listen

CBC/Radio-Canada

Radio | Television | Online

↑2.9%

growth in
revenue since
2018/19

83%

use at least
one service
per month

85%

of Canadians
agree on
role and need
for CBC/R-C

Overview

Updated: February 2021

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster, comprised of two main networks: the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC – English) and Radio-Canada (French). With 27 television stations and 88 radio stations located across the country to provide dedicated local news coverage region–by–region, CBC/Radio-Canada is one of the world’s largest public broadcasters. Its core values include integrity, creativity, relevance and inclusiveness. 

Operating in one of the world’s most multicultural and diverse populations, CBC/Radio-Canada prides itself on its multilingual services. The public broadcaster also states its commitment “to the needs and reflection of Canada’s Indigenous peoples” and offers programming in eight Indigenous languages via CBC North. Its international service, Radio Canada International (RCI) also provides programming in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin. 

CBC/Radio-Canada has several content-sharing partnerships, both domestic and international. The broadcaster joins forces with other francophone public broadcasters around the world to broadcast French–Canadian content internationally via TV5MONDE. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it launched the CBC Creative Relief Fund to provide vital support to Canadian content-makers. 

According to CBC/Radio-Canada’s 2020 Survey, 83% of Canadians believe that it is a trusted source of information and that there is a clear need and role for the public broadcaster in the future. However, like many public broadcasters around the world, CBC/Radio-Canada is faced with political pressure as an ongoing campaign calls to defund CBC’s online news platform and reduce funding for CBC’s English TV channels by half. The corporation’s main source of funding comes from government grants, which is supported by advertising revenue, subscription fees and additional activities. 

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

The CBC is a Crown corporation – the Government of Canada.

“The Broadcasting Act addresses the independence of the public broadcaster. Freedom of expression and journalistic, creative and programming independence are key to the public broadcaster in the pursuit of its objects and in the exercise of its powers... In a similar vein, while the Corporation is subject to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, these statutes also provide that it does not apply to any information that relates to its journalistic, creative or programming activities, other than information that relates to its general administration. As a result, a greater arm’s length relationship is maintained between the Government and CBC/Radio-Canada than with most Crown Corporations. The Broadcasting Act also provides that officers and employees employed by the Corporation are not officers or servants of Her Majesty” 

Source: https://site-cbc.radio-canada.ca/documents/vision/governance/privacy-privee/board-directors-governance-guide.pdf 

CBC/Radio-Canada has four sources of direct funding.

A breakdown of CBC/Radio-Canada’s 2019-2020 income:

  • Government funding: $1,209 million
  • Advertising revenue: $253.8 million
  • Subscriber fees: $123.5 million
  • Financing and other income: (includes income from activities such as rental of real estate assets, content sales, leasing of space at transmission sites, host broadcasting sports events and contributions from the Canada Media Fund.) $127.2 million

Total Revenue (total income less funding): $504 million

Radio Canada Revenue: $217 million,

CBC Revenue: $211 million

Source: cbc.radio-canada.ca

  • 83% of Canadians use at least one CBC/Radio-Canada service in a typical month (CBC/R-C)
  • Digital reach of CBC/Radio-Canada: 21.7 million, up 7.4% (CBC/R-C)

CBC News TV and Radio 

  • CBC News Canada English weekly reach of 29% and 19% more than 3 days per week 
  • CBC News Canada French weekly reach of 50% and 36% more than 3 days per week 

CBC News Online 

  • CBC News Canada English weekly users 25% and 18% reach more than 3 days per week 
  • CBC News Canada French weekly users 29% and 20% reach more than 3 days per week 

Source: cbc.radio-canada.ca

CBC/Radio-Canada is “proud to be Canadians’ most-trusted source of news and information, and has made verification and fact-checking a pillar of its coverage”. 

CBC News (Canada English) scored 71% for Brand Trust 

Radio-Canada (Canada French) scored 80% for Brand Trust

Source: http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/survey/2020/canada-2020/

As of March 2020, CBC/R-C employed a total of 7,673 full-time equivalent employees, up 2.9%. (2018-2019: 7,459) 

48.7% women
2.1% Indigenous people
3.2% persons with disabilities
14.1% visible minorities  

Source: cbc.radio-canada.ca

NPR
United States

National Networks

1,012 NPR Member Stations and Associate Stations
17 Domestic Bureaus

International Networks

17 International Bureaus

Online 

https://www.npr.org/

National Public Radio (NPR)

Radio | Online

29.1M

weekly listeners
across all
NPR stations

#1

ranked highest
among major US
news brands for
credibility and honesty

17.8M

weekly
npr.org
unique visitors

Overview

Updated: February 2021

For more than 50 years, NPR has existed as a network compromised of more than 1000 publicly-funded member and affiliate stations. All stations are operated and licenced separately, and all contribute towards informing, educating and entertaining the American public. NPR is one of the leading platforms for providing non-commercial news and entertainment and is ranked the highest among major US news brands for credibility and honesty.

The combined weekly listenership across all NPR stations is nearing 30 million. A recent, collaborative project focused on several of NPR’s member stations launching the first localised podcast, providing listeners in or near 10 regions across the US with national and local news coverage.

However, as with many PSBs worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought both challenges and opportunities for NPR. While the number of podcast downloads and unique visitors to the npr.org website has increased rapidly, the network has recorded a significant decline in listening figures as a result of fewer commuters listening to on-air broadcasts.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Owned by its member stations 

A 23-member Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of NPR through setting NPR’s policies, managing NPR’s performance and overseeing NPR’s budget and overall finances. The Board is comprised of the NPR President, the chairman of the NPR Foundation, 12 station managers of NPR’s members and nine members of the public, which are selected by station managers and the Board. 

NPR is mainly funded through fees and dues paid by Member stations and underwriting from corporate sponsors. Additional sources of revenue include individual contributions, grants and fees paid by users of the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS).

Breakdown of NPR’s 2018-19 funding:

Station dues, programming and digital fees: $89,020,136 (2018: $85,474,802 up 4%)

Corporate sponsorships: $111,271,829 (2018: $97,071,058 up 14.5%)

Public Radio Satellite System contract: $8,033,762 (2018: $5,798,637 up 38.5%)

Satellite interconnection and distribution: $8,609,794 (2018: $9,576,404 down 10%)

Commissions: $4,596,082 (2018: $6,009,382 down 23.5%)

Other: $9,304,092 (2018: $8,177,792 up 14%)

  • Revenue from gains and other support: $52,704,227 (2018: $46,718,374 up 13%)

Total revenue: $283,539,922 (2018: $258,826,449 up 9.5%)

 

Source: NPR Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

  • 60 million weekly audience across platforms.
  • 23 million weekly on-air listeners. 98.5% of the U.S. population lives within the listening area of a station carrying NPR programming.

Online and digital services

  • 18.3 million weekly website visitors
  • 2.6 million monthly app users
  • Weekly Visits to NPR Digital Properties 46.7 million (Google Analytics June 2020)
  • Weekly Unique Users of NPR Podcasts 14.4 million (Splunk, NPR Podcast Logs, June 2020)

A record number of people are have turned to NPR for news and other content during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 57 million people now consume the network’s offering each week, whether on radio or its various digital platforms. That’s a rise of nearly 10% from 2019, despite the severe drop in the broadcast audiences.

Podcast downloads and the usage of NPR’s listening apps are up nearly a quarter, and there is a 76% increase in users of NPR.org as more people access the network’s content from home.

Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/15/891404076/npr-radio-ratings-collapse-as-pandemic-kills-listeners-commutes

Number of Employees: 1,029 (as of April 2020)

News Division Staff: 440 (as of April 2020)

Source: https://media.npr.org/documents/about/press/NPR_Fact_Sheet.pdf

PBS members
United States

National network

More than 330 member stations
serve all 50 states as well as
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands,
Guam and American Samoa.

Online 

https://www.pbs.org/

http://pbskids.org/

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Television | Radio | Online

200+M

PBS is watched by
86% of TV
households
(200+ million)

81%

agree that PBS
KIDS is the
most trusted & safe
source for children

7th

most watched
television network
in primetime

Overview

Updated: April 2021

For over half a century, PBS has contributed to and shaped American society, playing a crucial role in informing, educating and entertaining the American public. Having ranked #1 in terms of public trust for 18 consecutive years, the public broadcaster continues to engage audiences across the USA via 350 member stations. 

From Sesame Street and Masterpiece Theater to Frontline’s award-winning investigative journalism, PBS continues to offer a vital source of diverse content for all audiences, especially those lacking access to cable and internet services.

PBS is also especially well known for its focus on producing content for children and is referred to as America’s “largest classroom”, upholding a mandate to “educate, inform and inspire”. PBS Kids was launched in 1994 as a platform to both educate and entertain children, and expanded its offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic amid school closures, catering for audiences with and without internet access.

In recent years, the Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding for PBS and NPR.

In detail

Click on the headings below for more information

Owned by its member public television stations. 

The 27-member Board of Directors manages PBS’ affairs, while also governing and setting PBS’ policies. The Board is made up of 14 station managers, 12 general directors and the PBS President, and serve a term of up to three years. Along with committees, the Board meets four times a year, some of which is open to the public. 

PBS adheres to robust editorial guidelines that align with key principles of public media, including editorial independence, accuracy, accountability, and transparency.  

https://www.cpb.org/faq#:~:text=PBS%20is%20a%20private%2C%20nonprofit,member%20stations%2C%20distribution%20and%20underwriting 

https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/board-directors/  

https://www.pbs.org/about/producing-pbs/editorial-standards/  

A large proportion of PBS’ revenue is acquired from member assessments, grants and contributions and donated broadcast rights and distributions, and supplemented by investment returns and other additional streams.

Total income: $589,783,000 (2018: $674,166, down 12.52%)

Breakdown:

Imputed Value of Donated Broadcast Rights: $148,914,000 (2018: $177,712,000, down 16.2%)

Member Assessments: $197,985,000 (2018: $197,552,000, up 0.22%)

Grants & Contributions: $55,477,000 (2018: $105,167,000, down 47.25%)

Distribution: $168,873,000 (2018: $174,789,000, down 3.38%)

Satellite Services: $113,000 (2018: $137,000, down 17.52%)

Investment Returns: net $9,985,000 (2018: $1,845,000, down 7.93%)

Other: $8,436,000 (2018: $7,964,000, up 5.93%)

 

Source: https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/financials/

Each month, PBS reaches over 126 million people through television and 26 million people online

Television

PBS is watched by 86% of TV households (over 200 million people)

63.7 million PBS primetime viewers each month (Nielsen NPOWER Live+7, 2018-2019, Avg Monthly Schedule, All PBS Stations M-Su 8p-11p)

7th most-watched television network in primetime (Nielsen Npower Primetime)

Each month, over 109 million people watch their local PBS stations

 

Digital

Each month, Americans watch an average of 298 million videos across all of PBS’ web, mobile and connected device platforms.

Each month, more than 28 million viewers watch video on PBS’s site and apps

14 million unique monthly PBS.org visitors (Google Analytics 2019)

PBS averages 309 million monthly video streams across all of PBS’s web, OTT, and mobile devices  (Source: Google Analytics Jan – Dec 2019)

PBS Digital Studios produces original content exclusively for digital platforms. PBS Digital Studios averages more than 48 million views per month on YouTub

PBS KIDS mobile apps have been downloaded 71.4 million times  (Source: AppFigures Mar 2011-Sep 2019)

PBS KIDS averages 11.1 million monthly users and 286 million monthly streams across digital platforms.

(Source: Google Analytics Oct ’18 – Sep ’19) 

 

Sources: https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/for-17th-consecutive-year-americans-name-pbs-and-member-stations-as-most-trusted-institution/

https://www.pbs.org/value/

http://about.lunchbox.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/overview/

https://www.sgptv.org/working-with-pbs/pbs-by-the-numbers/

1,266 (As of January 2020)

PBS Representation:

As of 7/31/2020, PBS staff is comprised of:

  • Women: 55%
  • BIPOC*: 40%

In Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020), our New Hires were comprised of:

  • Women: 58%
  • BIPOC: 48%
*Black, Indigenous, People of Color

https://www.pbs.org/about/careers/life-culture-pbs/

https://craft.co/pbs

As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, PBS launched a national and digital-first storytelling project, An American Portrait, which depicts the stories of American citizens to reflect the reality of American society, through triumph and tragedy.

PBS recorded an increase in viewing figures in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. It recorded a 19% growth on broadcast households compared to the 6 weeks prior to the shut-down (Nielsen Npower Primetime ALL PBS Stations 3/16-4/5/20 vs. 3/18-4/7/19 Households) and a 39% increase in weekly streaming (Google Analytics PBS owned platforms 3/16-4/5/20 vs. 3/18-4/7/19).

In the first eight weeks of the COVID-related shutdown, PBS TV stations reached over 72 million adults in primetime, and more than 24 million monthly users engaged with PBS general audience content via owned digital platforms.

http://about.lunchbox.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/overview/
https://www.pbs.org/sponsorship/

Header Image: Close-up image of microphone in podcast studio. Source: nortonrsx/iStock