Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting

Questions

What is PSB?
How are the missions and functions of public service broadcasters overseas defined and implemented?
What are the common funding models for public service broadcasters around the world?
What are the common PSB governance models around the world?
What are the terms of reference of the Committee on Review of PSB?
Who are the members of the Committee?
Why is it necessary to conduct the review?

1. What is PSB?

There is a very rich literature on PSB. A few leading examples are quoted here for reference.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organiszation (UNESCO), Public service broadcasting “is broadcasting made, financed and controlled by the public, for the public. It is neither commercial nor state-owned, free from political interference and pressure from commercial forces. Through PSB, citizens are informed, educated and also entertained. When guaranteed with pluralism, programming diversity, editorial independence, appropriate funding, accountability and transparency, public service broadcasting can serve as a cornerstone of democracy.”

For details, please visit here.

The World Radio Television Council of UNESCO considers that “Neither commercial nor State-controlled, public broadcasting's only raison d'etre is public service. It is the public's broadcasting organization; it speaks to everyone as a citizen. Public broadcasters encourage access to and participation in public life. They develop knowledge, broaden horizons and enable people to better understand themselves by better understanding the world and others. Public broadcasting is defined as a meeting place where all citizens are welcome and considered equals. It is an information and education tool, accessible to all and meant for all, whatever their social or economic status. Its mandate is not restricted to information and cultural development/public broadcasting must also appeal to the imagination, and entertain. But it does so with a concern for quality that distinguishes it from commercial broadcasting.”

For details, please visit here.

In Model Public Service Broadcasting Law by Dr. Werner Rumphorst, Legal Director of the European Broadcasting Union, “...public service broadcasting is made for the public, for the entire population, it follows, negatively expressed, that it is not made for the government, parliament, or president, for a political party or a church or for any other (private) interest group or for shareholders. It must be independent of all these, serving “only” the interests of the population, of people as citizens rather than as consumers”.

For details, pleaser visit here.

Wikipedia, a web-based free encyclopedia, provides the following definition: “Public service broadcasters generally transmit programming that aims to improve society by informing viewers..... major goals or characteristics of a public broadcaster:

Geographic universality
Catering for all interests and tastes
Catering for minorities
Concern for national identity and community
Detachment from vested interests and government
One broadcasting system to be directly funded by the corpus of users
Competition in good programming rather than numbers
Guidelines to liberate programme makers and not restrict them”

For details, please visit here

2. How are the missions and functions of public service broadcasters overseas defined and implemented?

In many overseas countries, the missions and functions of a public service broadcaster are enshrined in a public service charter or act of parliament. A few examples are cited below for reference.

The Charter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is embodied in section 6 of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, which provides that:

“Section 6 - Charter of the Corporation

The functions of the Corporation are:
1. to provide within Australia innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a high standard...., to provide:
  1. broadcasting programs that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform and entertain, and reflect the cultural diversity of, the Australian community; and
  2. broadcasting programs of an educational nature;
2. to transmit to countries outside Australia broadcasting programs of news, current affairs, entertainment and cultural enrichment that will:
  1. encourage awareness of Australia and an international understanding of Australian attitudes on world affairs; and
  2. enable Australian citizens living or travelling outside Australia to obtain information about Australian affairs and Australian attitudes on world affairs; and
3. to encourage and promote the musical, dramatic and other performing arts in Australia.
  ...
  1. the multicultural character of the Australian community; and
  2. ... programs of an educational nature/the responsibilities of the States in relation to education; ....”

For details, please visit here .

The Royal Charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) sets out the corporation's objects as follows:

“3. The objects of the Corporation are as follows:-
(a) To provide, as public services, sound and television broadcasting services (whether by analogue or digital means) and to provide sound and television programmes of information, education and entertainment for general reception ... and for reception elsewhere within the Commonwealth and in other countries and places overseas (such services being hereinafter referred to as 'the World Service')...”

For details, please visit here.

The mission of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is defined in the 1991 Broadcasting Act, which states that:

"...the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains;
...the programming provided by the Corporation should:

be predominantly and distinctively Canadian,
reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions,
actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression,
be in English and in French, reflecting the different needs and circumstances of each official language community, including the particular needs and circumstances of English and French linguistic minorities,
strive to be of equivalent quality in English and French,
contribute to shared national consciousness and identity,
be made available throughout Canada by the most appropriate and efficient means and as resources become available for the purpose, and
reflect the multicultural and multiracial nature of Canada."

For details, please visit here.

Under the three Radio Laws dated from April 1950, Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) is a “special corporation” which, according to the Broadcast Law, is entrusted with the responsibility of providing broadcasting throughout Japan. For details, please visit here. The following two articles are particularly relevant:

“Article 6-2 When a broadcaster conducts domestic broadcasting, it shall, in the event of a disaster caused by storm, heavy rain, flood, earthquake, large scale fire or other causes that have occurred or danger of a disaster is foreseen to occur, conduct broadcasting which helps to prevent occurrence of disaster or to reduce damages caused hereby.

Article 7 The purpose of NHK is to conduct its domestic broadcasting or to entrust its broadcast programs to be broadcasted with abundant and high quality broadcast programs for the public welfare and in such a manner that these broadcasting may be received all over Japan...”

For details, please visit here.

In India, the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990 provides that -

“12. Powers of Corporation

Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be the primary duty of the Corporation to organise and conduct public broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the public and to ensure a balanced development of broadcasting on radio and television....
The Corporation shall, in the discharge of its functions, be guided by the following objectives, namely:-
1. upholding the unity and integrity of the country and the values enshrined in the Constitution;
2. safeguarding the citizen's right to be informed freely, truthfully and objectively..., and presenting a fair and balanced flow of information including contrasting views....;
3. paying special attention to the fields of education and spread of literacy...;
4. providing adequate coverage to the diverse cultures and languages of the various regions...;
5. ... to encourage healthy competition and the spirit of sportsmanship; .....
6. ... keeping in view the special needs of the minorities and tribal communities;
7. ...to protect the interests of children, the blind, the aged, the handicapped and other vulnerable sections of the people;
8. promoting national integration...;”

For details, please visit here.

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has its own Charter which provides that:

“TVNZ shall:

feature programming across all genres that informs, entertains and educates New Zealand audiences;
strive always to set and maintain the highest standards of programme quality and editorial integrity;
provide shared experiences that contribute to a sense of citizenship and national identity
ensure ...the participation of Maori and the presence of a significant Maori voice;
feature programming that serves the varied interests and informational needs and agegroups within New Zealand society,...
maintain a balance between programmes of general appeal and programmes of interest to smaller audiences ...”

For details, please visit here

3. What are the common funding models for public service broadcasters around the world?

PSB funding models vary from place to place. The table below summarises the major elements for reference. Estimation is based on information provided on websites.

	Grant from Government / Parliament	License Fee / Royalties	Advertisement / Sponsorship	Sales Revenue	Others
ABC	81.3%				18.7%
ARD		82.4%	2.1%		15.5%
BBC (2004-05)
BBC World Service
CBC/Radio	72.41%		21.95%		5.64%
NHK
PBS (2005)	13.22%	10.25%	36.01%	9.87%	30.65%
TVNZ	10%		90%

For details, please visit the following links:
ABC
ARN
BBC
CBC
NHK
PBS
TVNZ

4. What are the common PSB governance models around the world?

Again, the governance models vary from place to place, each reflecting the country's own social-political background. A few examples are provided below for reference.

ABC

The ABC Advisory Council has 12 members, who furnish advice to the Board on matters relating to broadcasting programs.
The ABC Board is responsible for the Corporation's operations. The Board has up to 7 Directors appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Government.
The Managing Director is appointed by the Board and another Director is elected by the staff of the ABC.

For details, please visit here.

BBC

The BBC Board of Governors has 12 members appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Ministers.
The BBC Executive Board has 9 directors and is chaired by the Director-General.
A Creative Board, Journalism Board and Commercial Board report to the Executive Board. The Executive Board answers to the Board of Governors.
Day-to-day BBC operations are run by 16 divisions.

For details, please visit here.

CBC

The CBC Board of Directors has 11 members including Chairman & CEO. The Board is responsible for the management of the Corporation.
The Senior Management Committee includes the President & CEO; 1 Senior VP, 2 Executive VPs, 8 VPs and 1 President for real estate.

For details, please visit here.

NHK

The NHK Board of Governors has 12 members, and forms the decision-making body for every important matter concerning NHK's management policy and operation.
The President & Executive Director-General of Broadcasting are the top management of NHK.

For details, please visit here.

5. What are the terms of reference of the Committee on Review of PSB?

The Committee has been appointed by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with the following terms of reference -

To examine the role of, and justifications and public purposes for, PSB in the development of Hong Kong's broadcasting market, against the public financial and other resources required for such broadcasting.
To identify issues concerning public accountability for PSB in matters of editorial impartiality, programming policy and good governance.
To identify measures for the Administration to evaluate the effectiveness of PSB and arrangements through which the public can participate in such a process.
To recommend, in the light of the above, an appropriate arrangement for the provision of PSB in Hong Kong.
To recommend implementation plans for the short, medium and long terms.

6. Who are the members of the Committee?

Members of the Committee include -

Mr. Raymond R Wong (Chairman), Council Member, Hong Kong Baptist University and Open University of Hong Kong
Mr. Chan King Cheung, Chief Editor, the Hong Kong Economic Journal
Ms May Fung May Gay, Council Member, Hong Kong Baptist University
Professor Leung Tin Wai, Head, Department of Journalism and Communication, Hong Kong Shue Yan College
Mr. Pao Wan Lung, a veteran newspaper publisher
Professor Judy Tsui, Dean, Faculty of Business, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Mr. Mathias Woo, Creative Director, Zuni Icosahedron

7. Why is it necessary to conduct the review?

The Government states in a Legislative Council Brief issued on 17 January 2006 that “a fundamental and critical review of PSB in Hong Kong and its future development is timely. To a large extent this is due to the phenomenal changes to the broadcasting market that have been witnessed in the last two to three years and are expecting to continue to see in the future. The objective is to arrive at a clear policy framework that provides both the vision and specific plans for future development.”

For details, please visit here.

Last Update on 29 June 2006