Television across Europe. More channels, less independence

In 2005, the Open Society Institute (OSI) published Television across Europe: regulation, policy and independence, a monitoring survey of broadcasting in 20
countries. This major project was inspired by the observation that television – a basic component and gauge of democracy – was undergoing rapid change throughout
Europe.

The reports covered the eight central and eastern European countries that joined the EU in May 2004 (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia); Bulgaria and Romania, which joined in 2007; two candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey); four older EU member States (France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom) and the potential EU candidate countries in south-eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia,
and Serbia).

The final reports included significant contributions received through comments and critique during the monitoring process.

Widely acclaimed as unique in its range and rigour, the Television across Europe survey found that television stood on the brink of immense change – nowhere more than in
the new democracies of central and eastern Europe. However much they may have wanted to ignore it, traditional broadcasters as well as governments in those countries
were on the cusp of the ‘digital revolution’.

Since 2005, the pace of change in television has reached breakneck speed, affecting the patterns and models of production, transmission, consumption, marketing, financing
and ownership. In order to take the measure of these changes, OSI has revisited nine of the countries that were included in the 2005 monitoring, where broadcasting has
undergone significant change in the intervening three years: Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, the Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

TV across Europe 2008: more channels, less independence maps the main changes in broadcasting legislation, policy and markets over the past three years, and assesses the progress – or lack of – that these countries have made in improving the independence and pluralism of their broadcasting. As with the 2005 reports, these surveys are addressed to policy makers, civil society activists and academics alike, as a contribution to bringing about change. The nine country reports were drafted by local experts with the support of partner NGOs. All country reports are based on the same methodology, thus allowing for a comparative analysis. The Overview chapter points out common trends and offers recommendations for reform. The Open Society Institute and the Open Society Foundation assume final responsibility for their content. All reports are available in both English and translation at www.mediapolicy.org.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 19.3.09: European broadcasters face political 'counter-reformation' http://euobserver.com/9/27807

OSI: Television Across Europe: Regulation, Policy, and Independence (OSI, 2005) http://www.soros.org/initiatives/media/articles_publications/publications/eurotv_20051011

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