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The Future of Public Broadcasting in Central Asia: Challenges and Opportunities

This report discusses the evolving role of public broadcasting in Central Asian republics amid rapid technological, economic, and political changes. Highlighting the impact of liberalization and privatization, it emphasizes the need for public service broadcasting (PSB) to cater to citizens' needs, promote accessibility, and uphold democratic values. It addresses the competitive landscape driven by commercial interests and proposes strategies for PSB to remain relevant, including setting content standards, empowering marginalized voices, and adapting to new technologies.

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The Future of Public Broadcasting in Central Asia: Challenges and Opportunities

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  1. PSB: FUTURE DIRECTIONS Public Broadcasting Role in the New Environment AIBD – UNESCO - FES Seminar on PSB for Central Asian Republics Bishkek, July 2002 Kiran Karnik

  2. CURRENT VIEWPOINTS • Nearing extinction ? • “Needs protection” • “No need” • Privatise ?

  3. POLITICO - ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT • Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation • Ideology of “marketisation” • Cut government spending • Decreasing role of the State • More power with elites • “Open skies”; free flow of information

  4. TECNOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTOF BROADCASTING • Advances in digital/compression technologies • Progress in satellite technology • Satellite and cable TV distribution • Direct-to-home broadcasting • Internet revolution; new technologies • Unlimited choice, low costs

  5. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT • No monopoly; proliferation of channels/choice • Global channels; companies with vast resources • Very high technical and presentation standards • Fragmentation of audience • “Seductive” content • Unprecedented commercialisation

  6. JUSTIFICATION • Private channels catering to the consumer, not to citizens • Vast number of channels, but many unmet needs • Private channels may have their own agenda • PSB could set the benchmarks • Need to look at issues from the perspectives of citizens, not merely consumers or audience • Means of fulfilling the “entitlement” of all citizens to information, culture and entertainment

  7. PSB : OVERALL ROLE AND POSITIONING • Autonomous, independent of government • Not driven by commercial considerations • Creating and enlarging the public sphere • Vital component of civil society • Empowering the people, with focus on the disadvantaged

  8. PSB : SPECIFIC ROLES (1) • Reaching the unreached • geographically isolated: universal access • economically deprived • disadvantaged minorities • Meeting unmet needs • of the non-marketised • of minorities • for specific content/genres of programmes

  9. PSB : SPECIFIC ROLES (2) • Setting standards: technical, aesthetic, and content • Credible, prompt, available source for information/news • Giving voice to the voiceless: reverse flow and public access • Providing a platform for horizontal communication

  10. PSB : SPECIFIC ROLES (3) • Agenda-setting, and reflecting/provoking informed debate • Catalyst and accelerator of socio-economic development • Contributing to progressive societal and structural changes

  11. PUBLIC BROADCASTER: ADVANTAGES • Widest reach • Free-to-air • Generally more localised • Easier and priority access to events/information • Need not be commercially-driven

  12. PSB: IMPERATIVES FOR SUCCESS • Decentralise; localise content • Relevant, need-based content • Better presentation • Creative, effective, right-sized organisation • Research; responsive system • Exploit the power of market mechanisms • Keep abreast of new technologies

  13. ISSUES • Structure: ensuring autonomy, accountability and flexibility • Financing: grant, license fee, advertising, cess • Performance indicators: ratings, impact, “brand image” • Infrastructure: own, lease/privatise/corporatise, expand • New technology: DTH, DBS-Audio, DTT, Interactive TV • Cross-service synergy: radio, TV, Net

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