Europe’s political and economic climate is becoming increasingly challenging for public service media. Across many countries, broadcasters are facing growing pressure - financially, structurally, and sometimes politically - while continuing to defend their public service mission and cultural responsibilities.
In this context, cultural programming often finds itself in a fragile position. Music, arts and other “niche” cultural content can be among the first areas affected when budgets tighten, priorities shift, or political pressure increases. At the same time, public service broadcasters are expected to reflect artistic diversity, support cultural expression, and remain editorially independent in increasingly polarised societies.
This panel brings together commissioners and public value experts from across Europe to discuss how these realities are shaping decision-making today.
• How are priorities evolving?
• How do broadcasters balance public value, audience expectations, editorial independence and institutional pressure?
• And how can public service media continue to safeguard cultural diversity in a rapidly changing political and media environment?
Through concrete examples and practical experiences, the discussion will explore the challenges of commissioning and defending cultural content at a time when the role of public service media itself is increasingly being debated.
Free entry with prior reservation.