Public television in the digital era : technological challenges and new strategies for ... europe

Petros Iosifidis investigates the challenges that Public Television (PTV) broadcasters in Western European countries encounter in a competitive digital broadcasting environment and looks at the policies and strategies that these broadcasters are adopting in order to remain accountable, competitive and efficient. By looking at a number of large and small PTV broadcasters, the book reveals the different policies and strategy patterns that exist across Europe and uses European experience to propose workable strategies to be adopted by national PTV broadcasters. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 13 Preface......Page 16 Acknowledgements......Page 18 Part I: General Overview......Page 20 Significance of the TV industry......Page 22 Public television......Page 24 Public TV in a competitive market......Page 27 Dilemmas......Page 31 National strategies......Page 35 Aim of the book......Page 36 Methodology......Page 37 Structure of the book......Page 40 Technological factors......Page 41 Political and economic factors......Page 52 Social changes......Page 60 Consequences on public television......Page 61 Competition......Page 66 Effects of competition on public channels......Page 70 Funding model......Page 75 Programming strategies......Page 81 Involvement in new technologies......Page 89 Organisational restructuring......Page 95 Conclusion......Page 98 Part II: National Cases......Page 100 General characteristics of the TV market......Page 102 The regulatory framework......Page 104 Public television......Page 107 Multi-channel development......Page 108 Programming......Page 109 Governance reform......Page 112 Investment in new media......Page 113 Commercial activities......Page 117 Restructuring......Page 119 Prospects for the BBC......Page 120 General characteristics of the TV market......Page 124 The regulatory framework......Page 126 Public television......Page 128 Programming policy......Page 130 Thematic portfolio......Page 133 Digital initiatives......Page 134 Prospects for France Télévisions......Page 135 General characteristics of the TV market......Page 139 The regulatory framework......Page 141 Public television......Page 143 Programming strategy......Page 145 Digital initiatives......Page 148 Restructuring attempts......Page 149 Prospects for TVE......Page 152 General characteristics of the TV market......Page 155 The regulatory framework......Page 157 Public television......Page 158 Programming policy......Page 161 Organisational development......Page 164 Involvement in new technologies......Page 166 Prospects for RTÉ......Page 168 General characteristics of the TV market......Page 171 The regulatory framework......Page 173 Public television......Page 174 Reorganisation......Page 175 Programming strategy......Page 177 Prospects for SVT......Page 179 General characteristics of the TV market......Page 182 The regulatory framework......Page 184 Public television......Page 185 Restructuring efforts......Page 187 Programming strategy......Page 191 Digital initiatives......Page 194 Prospects for ERT......Page 195 10 Discussion and Conclusion......Page 197 Notes......Page 204 Bibliography......Page 210 B......Page 220 C......Page 221 F......Page 222 G......Page 223 I......Page 224 L......Page 225 O......Page 226 R......Page 227 S......Page 228 T......Page 229 Z......Page 230 Public Television In The Digital Era Defines The Mission And Role Of Public Television (ptv) Broadcasters In Europe, Outlines The Interrelated Political, Economic, Social, Cultural, Legal And Technological Factors Influencing Their Development, And Looks At The Strategies Employed By Different Ptv Broadcasters To Adapt To The New Era. In Doing So It Examines The State Pf Public Television In A Range Of European Countries (britain, France, Spain, Ireland, Sweden And Greece) With A Comparative Approach Across The Countries Monitored. Each National Case Study Provides A Picture Of The General Characteristics Of The Television Market And The Regulatory Framework. It Then Reports On The Dilemmas That National Ptv Broadcasters Face In The Era Of Digital Convergence, As Well As The Initiatives And Strategies That Are Developing To Face Competitive Pressures Arising From New Technologies, Organisational Reform And Programming Policy/scheduling. The Close Observation Of These Strategies Helps Identifying The Prospects And Future Role Of Public Tv In Europe. Part 1 -- Introduction, Aims And Methodology -- Factors Affecting The Development Of Public Television -- Competition And Dilemmas -- Part 2: National Cases -- Britain -- France -- Spain -- The Republic Of Ireland -- Sweden -- Greece -- Discussion And Conclusion. Petros Iosifidis. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 191-200) And Index. By looking at a range of different European Public Television (PTV) broadcasters, this book investigates the challenges that these broadcasters encounter in a competitive digital broadcasting environment and reveals the different policies and strategies that they are adopting in order to remain accountable, competitive and efficient. Public Television in the Digital Era defines the mission and role of Public Television (PTV) broadcasters in Europe, outlines the interrelated political, economic, social, cultural, legal and technological factors influencing their development, and looks at the strategies employed by different PTV broadcasters to adapt to the new era. In doing so it examines the state pf public television in a range of European countries (Britain, France, Spain, Ireland, Sweden and Greece) with a comparative approach across the countries monitored. Each national case study provides a picture of the general characteristics of the television market and the regulatory framework. It then reports on the dilemmas that national PTV broadcasters face in the era of digital convergence, as well as the initiatives and strategies that are developing to face competitive pressures arising from new technologies, organisational reform and programming policy/scheduling. The close observation of these strategies helps identifying the prospects and future role of public TV in Europe