View source for Public broadcasting

{{short description|Media outlets whose primary mission is public service}}
{{redirect|Public service broadcasting|the British band|Public Service Broadcasting (band)|other uses|Public service broadcasting (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|State media}}

'''Public broadcasting''' (or '''public service broadcasting''') is [[Radio broadcasting|radio]], [[television]], and other electronic [[Mass media|media]] whose primary mission is [[public service]] with a commitment to avoiding political and commercial influence. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including [[broadcast receiving licence|license]] fees, individual contributions and donations, public financing, and corporate underwriting.<ref name="unesco" /><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Public Service Broadcasting |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/media-development/public-service-broadcasting/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321175801/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/media-development/public-service-broadcasting/ |archive-date=2022-03-21 |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>

A public service broadcaster should operate as a [[Nonpartisanship|non-partisan]], [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] entity, guided by a clear public interest mandate. Public service broadcasters must be safeguarded from external interference—especially of a political or commercial nature—in matters related to [[governance]], budgeting, and editorial decision-making. The public service broadcasting model relies on an independent and transparent system of governance, encompassing key areas such as editorial policy, managerial appointments, and financial oversight.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Archived copy | url=https://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/the-media-landscape-in-28-countries-results-from-a-uis-pilot-survey-2012-en.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602083558/http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/the-media-landscape-in-28-countries-results-from-a-uis-pilot-survey-2012-en.pdf | archive-date=2018-06-02}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Stephanie A. (Sam) |date=2025-07-21 |title=PBS and NPR are generally unbiased, independent of government propaganda and provide key benefits to US democracy |url=http://theconversation.com/pbs-and-npr-are-generally-unbiased-independent-of-government-propaganda-and-provide-key-benefits-to-us-democracy-261512 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Common media include [[AM broadcasting|AM]], [[FM broadcasting|FM]], and [[shortwave broadcasting|shortwave radio]]; television; and the Internet. Public broadcasting may be nationally or locally operated, depending on the country and the station. In some countries a single organization runs public broadcasting. Other countries have multiple public-broadcasting organizations operating regionally or in different languages. Historically, public broadcasting was once the dominant or only form of broadcasting in many countries (with the notable exceptions of the United States, Mexico, and Brazil).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brambila |first=José Antonio |date=2016 |title=Public Service Media in Mexico and Latin America: Recent Improvements and Future Challenges |url=https://monographs.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/sfulibrary/catalog/download/1/2/16-2 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=monographs.lib.sfu.ca}}</ref>

==Definition==
The primary mission of public broadcasting is that of public service, speaking to and engaging as a citizen.<ref name=unesco>{{cite web|title=Public Broadcasting – Why, How?|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001240/124058eo.pdf|publisher=UNESCO & World Radio and Television Council|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-date=27 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227154513/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001240/124058eo.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom|British model]] is often referenced in definitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nosuch-research.co.uk/pppp.html|title=BRU definition of public service broadcasting|access-date=13 October 2014|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808194952/http://www.nosuch-research.co.uk/pppp.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=raboy>{{cite book|last=Raboy|first=Marc|title=Public broadcasting for the 21st century|year=1995|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=1-86020-006-0|pages=6–10}}</ref><ref name=psbGlobal>{{cite book|last=Banerjee|first=Indrajit|title=Public service broadcasting in the age of globalization|year=2006|publisher=Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)|isbn=981-4136-01-8}}</ref> The model embodies the following principles:

* Universal geographic accessibility
* Universal appeal
* Attention to minorities ("special provision for minorities")
* Contribution to national identity and sense of community
* Distance from vested interests
* Direct funding and universality of payment
* Encourage competition "in good programming rather than competition for numbers"
* Guidelines that liberate rather than restrict

While the application of certain principles may be straightforward, as in the case of accessibility, some of the principles may be poorly defined or difficult to implement. In the context of a shifting national identity, the role of public broadcasting may be unclear. Likewise, the subjective nature of good programming may raise the question of individual or public taste.<ref name=raboy/>

Within public broadcasting there are two different views regarding commercial activity. One is that public broadcasting is incompatible with commercial objectives. The other is that public broadcasting can and should compete in the marketplace with [[Commercial broadcasting|commercial broadcasters]]. This dichotomy is highlighted by the public service aspects of traditional commercial broadcasters.<ref name=raboy/>

Public broadcasters in each jurisdiction may or may not be synonymous with government controlled broadcasters.

==Etymology==
Who exactly coined the term "public broadcasting" is disputed. Various sources credit [[Morris S. Novik]], who served 20 years as station manager for [[New York City]]'s [[WNYC]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Morris S. Novik: Public Radio Pioneer {{!}} WNYC {{!}} New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News |url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/218821-morris-s-novik-public-radio-pioneer/ |publisher=WNYC |access-date=4 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref> the [[Carnegie Corporation of New York#Alan Pifer|Carnegie Commission on the Future of Public Broadcasting]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Les |title=Carnegie II: How Public Television Can Fulfill Its Promise |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/11/archives/carnegie-ii-how-public-television-can-fulfill-its-promise-a-new.html |access-date=18 July 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 February 1979 |location=New York}}</ref> and the Rocky Mountain Radio Council.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sheppard |first1=John |title=The Political Economic Structure of Early Media Reform Before and After the Communications Act of 1934 |journal=[[Resonance (journal)|Resonance]] |date=Fall 2020 |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=244–266 |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/res/article-abstract/1/3/244/112127/The-Political-Economic-Structure-of-Early-Media?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=18 July 2025}}</ref>

==Operating structures==
When television started out in many countries in the 1960's, the reliance on analogue [[terrestrial television]] severely limited the number of possible TV channels in a geographical area, and many countries only had 1 or 2 channels until well into the 1980's. As such, there were heavy differences between countries' approaches during that time on how to operate those channels, including:
*1 channel operated by 1 company ([[NRK]] in Norway; previously [[RTÉ]] in Republic of Ireland until 1978).
*2 channels operated by 1 company ([[BBC]]; [[Sveriges television|SVT]] in Sweden).
*Regional public broadcasters co-operating to create national channels ([[Das Erste]] in Germany).
*Regional public broadcasters with no national co-operations ([[VRT (broadcaster)|VRT]] and [[RTBF]] in Belgium, which later also included [[Belgischer Rundfunk|BRT]]).
*1 or 2 channels with timeslots allocated to various broadcaster companies ([[Dutch public broadcasting system|NPO]] in [[The Netherlands]]; previously [[Yle]] in Finland).
*Local public broadcasters co-operating to create national channels ([[PBS]] in the United States).

As digital [[satellite television]] and analogue (and later digital) [[cable television]] became broadly available in large parts of Europe and elsewhere in the 1980's, which both opened up more channel frequencies for existing public broadcasters and made foreign-based commercial channels like [[Sky Television (1984–1990)|Sky Television]] available even in countries that didn't allow them at the time, the public broadcasters' operating structures became less strict, though many of their core structures remain in for instance Germany and The Netherlands as of 2025.

==Economics==
Public broadcasters may receive their funding from an obligatory [[television licence]] fee, individual contributions, government funding or commercial sources. Public broadcasters do not rely on advertising to the same degree as commercial broadcasters, or at all; this allows public broadcasters to transmit programmes that are not commercially viable to the [[mass market]], such as [[Public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] shows, [[radio documentary|radio]] and television documentaries, and [[educational programme]]s.

One of the principles of public broadcasting is to provide coverage of interests for which there are missing or small markets. Public broadcasting attempts to supply topics of social benefit that are otherwise not provided by commercial broadcasters. Typically, such underprovision is argued to exist when the benefits to viewers are relatively high in comparison to the benefits to advertisers from contacting viewers.<ref name=andcoate /> This frequently is the case in undeveloped countries that normally have low benefits to advertising.<ref name=andcoate>{{cite journal|author1=Simon P. Anderson|author2=Stephen Coate|title=Market Provision of Broadcasting: A Welfare Analysis|journal=[[The Review of Economic Studies]]|date=October 2005|volume=72|issue=4|pages=947–972 |doi=10.1111/0034-6527.00357 }}</ref>

An alternative funding model proposed by [[Michael Slaby]] is to give every citizen credits they can use to pay qualified media sources for civic information and reporting.<ref>{{cite book |title=For All the People |author=Michael Slaby |year=2021 |publisher=Disruption Books |isbn=978-1-63331-051-3 |page=145}}</ref>

In the early 2020s, many of the public [[International broadcasting|international broadcasters]] that court audiences abroad have seen their budgets shrink, with the exception of [[Deutsche Welle]], while [[state media]] outlets from [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] countries like [[Russia]], [[China]] and [[Iran]] have been increasing their budgets since the early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romy |first=Katy |date=2025-04-25 |title=International public media face uncertain future in democracies |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/democracy/international-public-media-face-uncertain-future-in-democracies/89207323 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=China and Russia are deploying powerful new weapons: ideas |url=https://www.economist.com/international/2025/05/15/china-and-russia-are-deploying-powerful-new-weapons-ideas |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

==Cultural policy==
Additionally, public broadcasting may facilitate the implementation of a [[cultural policy]] (an [[industrial policy]] and [[investment policy]] for culture). Examples include:

*In Australia, the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] is legally required to 'encourage and promote the musical, dramatic and other performing arts in Australia' and 'broadcasting programmes that contribute to a sense of national identity' with specific emphasis on regional and rural Australia'.<ref>Charter of the Corporation (ABC). [http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/ABCcharter.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983: Section 6] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123121622/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/ABCcharter.htm |date=2007-11-23 }}.</ref> Furthermore, the [[Special Broadcasting Service]] (SBS) is intended to reflect the spirit and sense of multicultural richness and the unique international cultural values within Australian society.

==Select examples==

=== Americas ===

==== Brazil ====
{{see also|Empresa Brasil de Comunicação|Fundação Padre Anchieta}}
In Brazil, the two main national broadcasters are [[Brazil Communication Company|Empresa Brasil de Comunicação]] (EBC) and the [[Father Anchieta Foundation|Fundação Padre Anchieta]] (FPA). EBC was created in 2007 to manage the Brazilian federal government's radio and television stations. EBC owns broadcast the television channel [[TV Brasil]] (launched in 2007, being the merger of TVE Brasil, launched in [[Rio de Janeiro]] in 1975, and TV Nacional, launched in [[Brasília|Brasilia]] in 1960), the radio stations [[Rádio Nacional]] and [[Rádio MEC]], broadcast to [[Brasília|Brasilia]], Rio de Janeiro, [[São Paulo]], [[Belo Horizonte]], [[Recife]], and [[Tabatinga]], [[Rádio Nacional da Amazônia]], a [[Shortwave radio|shortwave]] radio station based in Brasília with programming aimed to the population of the [[Amazônia Legal|Amazon]] region, and [[Agência Brasil]], a news agency. Starting in 2021, EBC expanded the coverage of its radio stations through the new [[FM extended band in Brazil|FM extended band]] to the metropolitan areas of São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Recife, important Brazilian regions which did not have EBC radio stations.<ref name="agbr">{{cite news |last1=Ivo de Oliveira |first1=Pedro |date=7 May 2021 |title=EBC inaugura banda estendida FM e estreia programação em 5 capitais |url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2021-05/ebc-inaugura-banda-estendida-fm-e-estreia-programacao-em-5-capitais |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126001517/https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2021-05/ebc-inaugura-banda-estendida-fm-e-estreia-programacao-em-5-capitais |archive-date=26 January 2022 |access-date=25 January 2022 |work=Agência Brasil |language=pt-br}}</ref>

[[Fundação Padre Anchieta|FPA]] is a [[non-profit foundation]] created by the government of the state of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]] in 1967 and includes a national educational public television network ([[TV Cultura]], launched in 1969 in [[São Paulo]], which is available in all [[Federative units of Brazil|Brazilian states]] through its 135 affiliates),<ref>{{cite web |title=Cobertura |url=https://fpa.com.br/cobertura/?_ga=2.197406502.884143948.1634790296-699539558.1634790296 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021051837/https://fpa.com.br/cobertura/?_ga=2.197406502.884143948.1634790296-699539558.1634790296 |archive-date=21 October 2021 |access-date=21 October 2021 |website=Padre Anchieta Foundation |language=pt-BR}}</ref> two radio stations ([[Rádio Cultura]] FM and Rádio Cultura Brasil, both broadcasting to [[Greater São Paulo]]), two educational TV channels aimed at [[distance education]] (TV Educação and Univesp TV, which is available on free-to-air digital TV in São Paulo and nationally by cable and satellite), and the children's TV channel [[TV Rá-Tim-Bum]], available nationally on pay TV.

Many Brazilian states also have regional and statewide public radio and television stations. One example is [[Minas Gerais]], which has the EMC (''Empresa Mineira de Comunicação''), a public corporation created in 2016 modelled on EBC, formed by [[Rede Minas]], a statewide television network and the two stations of [[Rádio Inconfidência]], which operates in AM, FM and [[Shortwave radio|shortwave]]; in the state of [[Pará]], the state-funded foundation FUNTELPA (''Fundação Paraense de Radiodifusão'') operates the public educational state-wide television network Rede Cultura do Pará (which covers the entire state of Pará, reaching many cities of [[Amazônia Legal|Brazilian Amazon]]) and Rádio Cultura, a public radio station which broadcasts in FM for [[Belém]]. The state of [[Espírito Santo]] has the RTV-ES (''Rádio e Televisão Espírito Santo''), with its television channel TVE-ES (''TV Educativa do Espírito Santo'') and an AM radio station (''Rádio Espírito Santo''), and in [[Rio Grande do Sul]], the state-wide public television channel TVE-RS (''TV Educativa do Rio Grande do Sul'') and the public radio station FM Cultura (which broadcasts for [[Porto Alegre]] metropolitan area) are the two public broadcasters in the state. Regional public television channels in Brazil often broadcast part of TV Brasil or TV Cultura programming among with some hours of local programming.

Since the government of [[Michel Temer]], EBC has received several criticism from some politicians for having an alleged political bias.<ref name="oglobo">{{cite news |date=11 June 2016 |title=EBC virou 'cabide de emprego' e símbolo de aparelhamento político, diz ministro |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/ebc-virou-cabide-de-emprego-simbolo-de-aparelhamento-politico-diz-ministro-19487534 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410023630/https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/ebc-virou-cabide-de-emprego-simbolo-de-aparelhamento-politico-diz-ministro-19487534 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=O Globo |language=pt-BR}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Com desenho animado e programas chapa-branca, para que serve a TV Brasil? {{!}} Tela Plana |url=https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/tela-plana/com-desenho-animado-e-programas-chapa-branca-para-que-serve-a-tv-brasil/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410030441/https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/tela-plana/com-desenho-animado-e-programas-chapa-branca-para-que-serve-a-tv-brasil/ |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=Veja |language=pt-BR}}</ref> The president of Brazil from 2019 to 2022, [[Jair Bolsonaro]], said in his campaign for the [[Brazilian presidential election, 2018|presidential election in 2018]] that the public broadcaster is allegedly a "job hanger" (public company existing only for the purpose of securing positions for political allies) and has proposed to privatize or extinguish the public company.<ref>{{cite news |title=Promessa de campanha, privatização da EBC fica para depois de 2022 {{!}} Radar Econômico |url=https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/radar-economico/promessa-de-campanha-privatizacao-da-ebc-fica-para-proximo-presidente/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410023729/https://veja.abril.com.br/blog/radar-economico/promessa-de-campanha-privatizacao-da-ebc-fica-para-proximo-presidente/ |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=Veja |language=pt-BR}}</ref> On April 9, 2021, the president inserted the public company into the National Privatization Program, with the intention of carrying out studies about the possibility of privatization of the public broadcaster.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 April 2021 |title=EBC e Eletrobras são incluídas no programa de privatização |url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/radioagencia-nacional/politica/audio/2021-04/ebc-e-eletrobras-sao-incluidas-no-programa-de-privatizacao |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410023634/https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/radioagencia-nacional/politica/audio/2021-04/ebc-e-eletrobras-sao-incluidas-no-programa-de-privatizacao |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=Agência Brasil |publisher=EBC |language=pt-br}}</ref> Some states often had problems with their public broadcasting services. In São Paulo, FPA had sometimes dealt with budget cuts, labor disputes and strikes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Castro |first1=Daniel |date=19 June 2015 |title=Funcionários da TV Cultura entram em greve por aumento e abono |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/funcionarios-da-tv-cultura-entram-em-greve-por-aumento-e-abono-8332 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410065929/https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/funcionarios-da-tv-cultura-entram-em-greve-por-aumento-e-abono-8332 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR}}</ref> In Rio Grande do Sul, TVE-RS and FM Cultura were managed by the Piratini Foundation, a non-profit state foundation. However, due to the public debt crisis in the state, in 2018, the Piratini Foundation had its activities closed, and TVE-RS and FM Cultura started to be managed by the Secretariat of Communication of the state government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Extinções da Fundação Piratini e da Cientec são publicadas no Diário Oficial do Rio Grande do Sul |url=https://g1.globo.com/rs/rio-grande-do-sul/noticia/extincoes-da-fundacao-piratini-e-da-cientec-sao-publicadas-no-diario-oficial-do-rio-grande-do-sul.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410065926/https://g1.globo.com/rs/rio-grande-do-sul/noticia/extincoes-da-fundacao-piratini-e-da-cientec-sao-publicadas-no-diario-oficial-do-rio-grande-do-sul.ghtml |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=G1 |language=pt-br}}</ref>

Brazil also has many [[campus radio]] and [[community radio]] stations and several educational local TV channels (many of them belonging to public and private universities).<ref>{{cite news |title=Televisões universitárias e a força das transmissões |url=http://www.observatoriodaimprensa.com.br/tv-em-questao/televisoes-universitarias-e-a-forca-das-transmissoes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410065927/http://www.observatoriodaimprensa.com.br/tv-em-questao/televisoes-universitarias-e-a-forca-das-transmissoes/ |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=Observatório da Imprensa |language=pt-BR}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UPFTV transmitirá a programação da TV Cultura |url=https://www.upf.br/noticia/upftv-transmitira-a-programacao-da-tv-cultura |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410065929/https://www.upf.br/noticia/upftv-transmitira-a-programacao-da-tv-cultura |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=University of Passo Fundo |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Radiodifusão: licenças e outorgas |url=https://www.abert.org.br/web/index.php/dados-do-setor/estatisticas/radiodifusao-licencas-e-outorgas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410065928/https://www.abert.org.br/web/index.php/dados-do-setor/estatisticas/radiodifusao-licencas-e-outorgas |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |website=ABERT |language=pt-BR}}</ref>

==== Canada ====
{{see also|Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}
In Canada, the main public broadcaster is the national [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC; {{langx|fr|Société Radio-Canada}}), a [[State-owned enterprise|crown corporation]] – which originated as a radio network in November 1936. It is the successor to the [[Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission]] (CRBC), which was established by the administration of Prime Minister [[R.B. Bennett]] in 1932, modeled on recommendations made in 1929 by the [[Royal Commission on Radio Broadcasting]] and stemming from lobbying efforts by the [[Canadian Radio League]]. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation took over operation of the CRBC's nine radio stations (which were largely concentrated in major cities across Canada, including [[Toronto]], Vancouver, [[Montreal]], and [[Ottawa]]). The CBC eventually expanded to television in September 1952 with the sign-on of [[CBFT-DT|CBFT]] in Montreal; CBFT was the first television station in Canada to initiate full-time broadcasts, which initially served as a primary affiliate of the French language Télévision de Radio-Canada and a secondary affiliate of the [[Canadian English|English language]] CBC Television service.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Birth and Death of The Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (1932–1936) |url=https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/birth-and-death-canadian-radio-broadcasting-commission-1932-1936 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017213904/https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/birth-and-death-canadian-radio-broadcasting-commission-1932-1936 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=June 23, 2017 |website=[[Canadian Communications Foundation]]}}</ref>

CBC operates two national television networks ([[CBC Television]] and [[Ici Radio-Canada Télé]]), four radio networks ([[CBC Radio One]], [[CBC Radio 2]], [[Ici Radio-Canada Première]], and [[Ici Musique]]) and several cable television channels including two 24-hour news channels ([[CBC News Network]] and [[Ici RDI]]) in both of Canada's official languages – English and French – and the French-language channels [[Ici Explora]] and [[Ici ARTV]], dedicated to science and culture respectively. CBC's national television operations and some radio operations are funded partly by advertisements, in addition to the subsidy provided by the federal government. The cable channels are commercial entities owned and operated by the CBC and do not receive any direct public funds, however, they do benefit from synergies with resources from the other CBC operations. The CBC has frequently dealt with budget cuts and labour disputes, often resulting in a debate about whether the service has the resources necessary to properly fulfill its mandate.

{{As of|2017}}, all of CBC Television's terrestrial stations are [[Owned-and-operated station|owned and operated]] by the CBC directly. The number of privately owned CBC Television affiliates has gradually declined in recent years, as the network has moved its programming to stations opened by the corporation or has purchased certain affiliates from private broadcasting groups; budgetary issues led the CBC to choose not to launch new rebroadcast transmitters in markets where the network disaffiliated from a private station after 2006; the network dropped its remaining private affiliates in 2016, when [[CJDC-TV]]—[[Dawson Creek]] and [[CFTK-TV]]—[[Terrace, British Columbia]] defected from CBC Television that February and [[Lloydminster]]-based [[CKSA-DT]] disaffiliated in August of that year (to become affiliates of [[CTV Two]] and [[Global Television Network|Global]], respectively). The CBC's decision to disaffiliate from these and other privately owned stations, as well as the corporation decommissioning its network of rebroadcasters following [[Digital terrestrial television in Canada|Canada's transition to digital television]] in August 2011 have significantly reduced the terrestrial coverage of both CBC Television and Ici Radio-Canada Télé; the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) does require cable, satellite and IPTV providers to carry CBC and Radio-Canada stations as part of their basic tier, regardless of terrestrial availability in an individual market.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 28, 2014 |title=Broadcast Distribution Regulations (ss. 17(d) and 17(f)) |url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-97-555/FullText.html#s-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150203/http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-97-555/FullText.html#s-17 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |access-date=June 23, 2017 |website=Justice Laws Website |publisher=[[Department of Justice (Canada)|Department of Justice]]}}</ref> Of the three major French-language television networks in Canada, Ici Radio-Canada Télé is the only one that maintains terrestrial owned-and-operated stations and affiliates in all ten [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian provinces]], although it maintains only one station ([[Moncton, New Brunswick]]-based [[CBAFT-DT]]) that serves the four provinces comprising [[Atlantic Canada]].

In recent years, the CBC has also expanded into [[new media]] ventures including the online radio service [[CBC Radio 3]], [[music streaming]] service [[CBC Music]], and the launch of online news services, such as [[CBC Hamilton]], in some markets which are not directly served by their own CBC television or radio stations.

In addition, several provinces operate public broadcasters; these are not CBC subentities, but distinct networks in their own right. Most of the provincial services maintain an educational programming format, differing from the primarily entertainment-based CBC/Radio-Canada operations, but more closely formatted to (and carrying many of the same programs as) the U.S.-based [[PBS|Public Broadcasting Service]] (PBS), which itself is available terrestrially and – under a CRTC rule that requires Canadian cable, satellite and IPTV providers to carry affiliates of the four major U.S. commercial networks ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[NBC]], [[CBS]] and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]) and a PBS member station<ref>{{cite news |date=September 12, 1994 |title=Canadian cablecos to do the FOX trot. |newspaper=Alberta Report / Newsmagazine |page=43}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Etan Vlessing |date=July 31, 2009 |title=Canada-U.S. cross-border station shake-up |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canada-cross-border-station-shake-87165 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726084805/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canada-cross-border-station-shake-87165 |archive-date=July 26, 2017 |access-date=June 23, 2017 |periodical=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Holdings|The Nielsen Company]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> – through pay television providers in Canada via member stations located near the [[Canada–United States border|U.S.–Canada border]]. These educational public broadcasters include the English-language [[TVOntario]] (TVO) and the French-language [[TFO]] in Ontario, [[Télé-Québec]] in Quebec, and [[Knowledge Network]] in British Columbia. TVO and Télé-Québec operate through conventional transmitters and cable, while TFO and Knowledge Network are cable-only channels. Beyond these and other provincial services, Canada does not have a national public educational network.
[[File:CJAI-islandradio-summer2010.jpg|right|thumb|Amherst Island public radio]]
Canada is also home to a number of former public broadcasting entities that have gone private. [[CTV Two Alberta]], which is licensed as an educational television station in Alberta, was once owned by the [[Government of Alberta|Alberta government]] as the public broadcaster Access. In 1993, the provincial government agreed to cease to direct funding of Access after the 1994 fiscal year; the channel was sold to [[CHUM Limited]] in 1995, which initially acquired the channel through a majority-owned subsidiary, Learning and Skills Television of Alberta Limited (LSTA).<ref>{{cite web |date=1995-07-20 |title=Decision CRTC 95–472 |url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1995/DB95-472.HTM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004135121/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1995/DB95-472.HTM |archive-date=2012-10-04 |access-date=2011-09-03 |publisher=CRTC}}</ref> To fulfill its license conditions as an educational station, it broadcasts educational and children's programming during the [[Daytime television|daytime]] hours, while airing entertainment programming favoured by advertisers and viewers in prime time. The service discontinued its broadcast transmitters in [[Calgary]] and [[Edmonton]] in August 2011, due to the expense of transitioning the two stations to [[Digital terrestrial television|digital]], and the fact that the service had mandatory carriage on television providers serving Alberta regardless of whether it ran over-the-air transmitters. The service has since operated as part of [[Bell Media]]'s [[CTV Two]] chain of stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Applicant response dated 6 December 2010 |url=https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/DocWebBroker/OpenDocument.aspx?AppNo=201012616 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628081027/https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/DocWebBroker/OpenDocument.aspx?AppNo=201012616 |archive-date=2013-06-28 |access-date=2011-03-17}}</ref>

Public radio station [[CKUA Radio Network|CKUA]] in Alberta was also formerly operated by Access, before being sold to the non-profit CKUA Radio Foundation which continues to operate it as a community-funded radio network. [[CJRT-FM]] in Toronto also operated as a public government-owned radio station for many years; while no longer funded by the provincial government, it still solicits most of its budget from listener and corporate donations and is permitted to air only a very small amount of commercial advertising.

[[City Saskatchewan]] originated as the Saskatchewan Communications Network, a cable-only educational and cultural public broadcaster owned by the [[government of Saskatchewan]]. SCN was sold to Bluepoint Investment Corporation in 2010, and like CTV Two Alberta did when it became privatized, incorporated a limited schedule of entertainment programming during the late afternoon and nighttime hours, while retaining educational and children's programs during the morning until mid-afternoon to fulfill its licensing conditions; Bluepoint later sold the channel to [[Rogers Media]] in 2012, expanding a relationship it began with SCN in January of that year, when Rogers began supplying entertainment programming to the channel through an affiliation agreement with its English-language broadcast network, [[City (TV network)|Citytv]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-06-21 |title=Sask. TV network sold to Ontario firm |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-tv-network-sold-to-ontario-firm-1.897892 |access-date=2010-06-21 |work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/898133/citytv-and-scn-sign-affiliate-agreement Citytv and SCN Sign Affiliate Agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929132307/http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/898133/citytv-and-scn-sign-affiliate-agreement|date=2013-09-29}} CNW press release 2011-12-20</ref><ref>[http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/203765--citytv-expanding-into-quebec-western-canada Citytv expanding into Quebec & Western Canada] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509185944/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/203765--citytv-expanding-into-quebec-western-canada|date=May 9, 2012}}, ''[[CityNews]]'', May 3, 2012.</ref> One television station, [[CFTU-TV|CFTU]] in Montreal, operates as an educational station owned by CANAL ({{langx|fr|Corporation pour l'Avancement de Nouvelles Applications des Langages Ltée|lit=Corporation for the Advancement of New Language Applications Ltd.}}), a private not-for-profit consortium of educational institutions in the province of Quebec.

Some local community stations also operate non-commercially with funding from corporate and individual donors. In addition, cable companies are required to produce a local [[Community channel (Canada)|community channel]] in each licensed market. Such channels have traditionally aired community talk shows, city council meetings and other locally oriented programming, although it is becoming increasingly common for them to adopt the format and branding of a local news channel.

Canada also has a large number of [[campus radio]] and [[community radio]] stations.

==== United States ====
{{main|Public broadcasting in the United States}}
 {{See also|Corporation for Public Broadcasting|Current (newspaper)}}
[[File:UIUC_Gregory_Hall_200511.jpg|thumb|The Gregory Hall on the campus of [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]] hosted an important meeting of the [[National Association of Educational Broadcasters]] in the 1940s, that spawned both [[PBS]] and [[NPR]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}]]
In the United States, public broadcasters may receive some funding from both [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] and [[State governments of the United States|state]] sources, but generally most of their financial support comes from underwriting by foundations and businesses (ranging from small shops to corporations), along with audience contributions via [[pledge drive]]s. Many are owned or overseen by [[not-for-profit corporation]]s, university boards or other local license holders.<ref name=":0" />

===== History =====
Early public stations were operated by state colleges and universities and were often run as part of the schools' [[cooperative extension service]]s. Stations in this era were internally funded, and did not rely on listener contributions to operate, some accepted advertising. Networks such as [[Iowa Public Radio]], [[South Dakota Public Broadcasting|South Dakota Public Radio]], and [[Wisconsin Public Radio]] began under this structure.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 21, 2013 |title=The History of Public Broadcasting |url=https://onlinempa.unc.edu/history-of-public-broadcasting/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826185136/https://onlinempa.unc.edu/history-of-public-broadcasting/ |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |website=UNC-Chapel Hill Master of Public Administration}}</ref> The concept of a "[[Non-commercial educational|non-commercial, educational]]" station ''per se'' did not show up in U.S. law until 1941, when the [[FM band]] was authorized to begin normal broadcasting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Regulations Title 47, Part 73, §73.501 Channels available for assignment. |url=http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=d39b27f095e10dca36d354445fd2b649&mc=true&n=sp47.4.73.d&r=SUBPART&ty=HTML#se47.4.73_1513 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208141114/http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=d39b27f095e10dca36d354445fd2b649&mc=true&n=sp47.4.73.d&r=SUBPART&ty=HTML#se47.4.73_1513 |archive-date=2017-02-08 |access-date=2016-11-22 |publisher=United States Government}}</ref> [[Houston]]'s [[KUHT]] was the nation's first public television station founded by Dr. John W. Meaney, and signed on the air on May 25, 1953, from the campus of the [[University of Houston]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us: 50 Years of HoustonPBS History |url=http://www.houstonpbs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=abt_history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511081424/http://www.houstonpbs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=abt_history |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |access-date=July 19, 2008 |publisher=KUHT – HoustonPBS}}</ref> In rural areas, it was not uncommon for colleges to operate commercial stations instead (e.g., the [[University of Missouri]]'s [[KOMU]], an [[NBC]]-affiliated television station in [[Columbia, Missouri|Columbia]]). The FCC had reserved almost 250 broadcast frequencies for use as educational television stations in 1953, though by 1960, only 44 stations allocated for educational use had begun operations.<ref>{{cite book |last=Burke |first=John Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FenfjvstLXUC |title=An Historical-Analytical Study of the Legislative and Political Origins of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 |publisher=Ayer Publishing |year=1980 |isbn=0-405-11756-6 |series=Dissertations in Broadcasting |access-date=June 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628045326/https://books.google.com/books?id=FenfjvstLXUC |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Television in the United States |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1513870/Television-in-the-United-States/283623/Educational-TV?anchor=ref1057430 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003032139/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1513870/Television-in-the-United-States/283623/Educational-TV?anchor=ref1057430 |archive-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref>

The passage of the [[Public Broadcasting Act of 1967]] precipitated the development of the current public broadcasting system in the U.S. The legislation established the [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]] (CPB), a private entity that is charged with facilitating programming diversity among public broadcasters, the development and expansion of non-commercial broadcasting, and providing funding to local stations to help them create programs; the CPB receives funding earmarked by the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] as well as through public and private donations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 |url=http://www.cpb.org/files/act/PublicBroadcastingAct1967.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017214200/https://www.cpb.org/files/act/PublicBroadcastingAct1967.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |publisher=[[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hellewell |first=Emily |date=November 8, 2012 |title=How Public Radio Scotch-Taped Its Way Into Public Broadcasting Act |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2012/11/08/164624162/how-public-radio-scotch-taped-its-way-into-public-broadcasting-act |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921121156/http://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2012/11/08/164624162/how-public-radio-scotch-taped-its-way-into-public-broadcasting-act |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |website=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

Public television and radio in the U.S. have, from the late 1960s onward, dealt with severe criticism from conservative politicians and think-tanks (such as [[The Heritage Foundation]]), which allege that its programming has a [[leftist]] bias and there have been successful attempts to reduce – though not eliminate – funding for public television stations by some state legislatures.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hagey |first=Keach |date=October 23, 2010 |title=Defunding NPR? It's not that easy |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/defunding-npr-its-not-that-easy-044056 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717063427/http://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/defunding-npr-its-not-that-easy-044056 |archive-date=July 17, 2017 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |website=[[Politico]] |publisher=[[Capitol News Company]]}}</ref>

In May 2025, President Donald Trump signed [[Executive Order 14290]], which directed the CPB to halt funding to NPR and PBS due to the "bias" in their reporting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |date=2025-05-01 |title=Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-npr-pbs-republicans-public-broadcasting-f0e3e1acb96986732a0211833165bf84 |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> This was followed by the passage and signing of the [[Rescissions Act of 2025]], which clawed back $1.1 Billion in funding for the CPB. Because of this, the organization announced that it would begin the process of shutting down at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025, laying off the majority of its staff, with a skeleton crew remaining until the following January in order to distribute the remainder of its funding.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neuman |first=Scott |last2=Langfitt |first2=Frank |last3= |first3= |date=2025-08-01 |title=Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it's shutting down |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/08/01/nx-s1-5489808/cpb-shut-down-public-broadcasting-trump |access-date=2025-11-03 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

===== Radio =====
The first public radio network in the United States was founded in 1949 in Berkeley, California, as station [[KPFA]], which became and remains the flagship station for a national network called [[Pacifica Radio]]. From the beginning, the network has refused corporate funding of any kind, and has relied mainly on listener support. KPFA gave away free FM radios to build a listener base and to encourage listeners to "subscribe" (support the station directly with donations). It is the world's oldest listener-supported radio network.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Meikle |first=Graham |title=Future Active: Media Activism and the Internet |publisher=Psychology Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-415-94322-2 |page=71}}</ref> Since the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Pacifica has sometimes received CPB support. Pacifica runs other stations in [[KPFK|Los Angeles]], [[WBAI|New York City]], [[WPFW|Washington, D.C.]], and [[KPFT|Houston]], as well as repeater stations and a large network of affiliates.

A national public radio network, [[National Public Radio]] (NPR), was created in February 1970, following the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. This network replaced the Ford Foundation–backed [[National Educational Radio Network]]. Some independent local public radio stations buy their programming from distributors such as NPR; [[Public Radio International]] (PRI); [[American Public Media]] (APM); [[Public Radio Exchange]] (PRX); and [[Pacifica Radio]], most often distributed through the Public Radio Satellite System.<ref>George H. Gibson, ''Public Broadcasting; The Role of the Federal Government, 1919–1976'' (Praeger Publishers, 1977).</ref> Cultural Native American and Mexican American music and programming are also featured regionally. NPR is colloquially though inaccurately conflated with ''public radio'' as a whole, when in fact "public radio" includes many organizations.

===== Television =====
In the United States, the [[PBS|Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)]] serves as the nation's main public television provider. When it launched in October 1970, PBS assumed many of the functions of its predecessor, [[National Educational Television]] (NET). NET was shut down by the [[Ford Foundation]] and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after the network refused to stop airing documentaries on varying social issues that had alienated many of the network's affiliates.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 14, 2000 |title=Articles of Incorporation of Public Broadcasting Service |url=http://www.current.org/pbpb/documents/PBSarticles69.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010406090018/http://www.current.org/pbpb/documents/PBSarticles69.html |archive-date=April 6, 2001 |access-date=January 12, 2008 |work=[[Current (newspaper)|Current]] |department=Public Broadcasting PolicyBase}}</ref> PBS would later acquire [[Educational Television Stations]], an organization founded by the [[National Association of Educational Broadcasters]] (NAEB), in 1973.<ref name="JARVIK">{{cite book |author=Laurence Ariel Jarvik |title=PBS, behind the screen |publisher=Forum |year=1997 |isbn=0761506683 |location=[[Rocklin, California]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Public TV Faces Fund Struggles |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SelHAAAAIBAJ&pg=805,469633&dq=hartford+public+broadcasting+television+gunn&hl=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906010404/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SelHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n_8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=805,469633&dq=hartford+public+broadcasting+television+gunn&hl=en |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=October 28, 2013 |newspaper=[[Record-Journal|The Morning Record]] |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=James Day |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dKYZynRiU6YC&q=hartford+n+gunn+jr&pg=PA137 |title=The Vanishing Vision: The Inside Story of Public Television |date=September 16, 1969 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0520086593 |access-date=October 23, 2013 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

=== Middle East ===

==== Israel ====
In Israel, the [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|Israeli Broadcasting Authority]] was the country's main public broadcasting service until 2017, when it was replaced by '''[[Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation|Kan]]''' (Hebrew for "here"), the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

In Arabic, the IPBC is known by the name '''Makan''' (Arabic for "place").

Kan has inherited the two main public TV channels in Israel:

* [[Channel 1 (Israel)|Channel 1]], as of 2017 "'''[[KAN 11]]'''" – Main TV channel
* [[Channel 33 (Israel)]], as of 2017 "'''Makan 33'''" – Arabic language TV channel

Kan also includes the following 8 public radio stations, taken from IBA:

* Reshet Alef (Network A), as of 2017 "'''Kan Tarbut'''" – Podcasts and talk programs related to culture
* Reshet Bet (Network B), as of 2017 "'''Kan Bet'''" – News and current affairs
* Reshet Gimel (Network C), as of 2017 "'''Kan Gimel'''" – Israeli music
* Reshet Dalet (Network D), as of 2017 "'''MAKan Radio'''" – Arabic language station
* Reshet Hey (Network E), as of 2017 "'''Kan Farsi'''" – Persian language station, internet only
* 88FM, as of 2017 "'''Kan 88'''" – Alternative music
* Kol Hamusika ("The Sound of Music"), as of 2017 "'''Kan Kol Hamusika'''" – Classical music, jazz
* REKA – Reshet Klitat [[Aliyah]] (Aliyah integration network), as of 2017 "'''Kan Reka'''" – Multilingual, mostly Russian language station
* Reshet Moreshet, as of 2017 "'''Kan Moreshet'''" – Jewish-related news and programming

In addition, the ministry of education owns the [[Israeli Educational Television]], known as '''Hinuchit''', the first Israeli television channel. It was created by the Rothschild fund to aid the ministry's work in teaching children from kindergarten to high school and to promote the television's use in Israel at a time the government considered the device a "cultural decadence". It is funded and operated by the ministry, and since the 1980s it has widened its orientation to adults as well as children. In August 2018, the Educational Television was shut down and replaced by '''Kan Hinuchit'''.

=== Europe ===
{{see also|European Broadcasting Union}}
In most countries in Europe, public broadcasters are funded through a mix of advertising and public finance, either through a license fee or directly from the government.

==== Austria ====
{{Main|ORF (broadcaster)}}

[[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] (''Österreichischer Rundfunk'') is the public broadcaster in Austria. Despite the fact that private broadcasting companies were allowed in Austria in the late 1990s, ORF is still ''the'' key player in the field. It has three nationwide radio channels ([[Ö1]], [[Ö3]], [[FM4]]), nine regional ones (one for each [[Bundesland (Austria)|Bundesland]]). Its TV portfolio includes two general interest channels ([[ORF 1]] and [[ORF 2]]), one cultural-instructional channel ([[ORF III]]), one Eurovision-wide version of ORF 2 and a sports channel ([[ORF Sport +]]). ORF also takes part in the German-language satellite TV network [[3sat]].

==== Belgium ====
Belgium has three networks, one for each linguistic community:

* [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|VRT]], Dutch
* [[RTBF]], French
* [[Belgischer Rundfunk|BRF]], German

Originally named INR {{snd}}[[:nl:Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep|''Institut national belge de radiodiffusion'']]{{snd}}the state-owned broadcasting organization was established by law on 18 June 1930. Television broadcasting from Brussels began in 1953, with two hours of programming each day. In 1960 the INR was subsumed into RTB ({{langx|fr|Radio-Télévision Belge}}) and BRT (lang-nl|Belgische Radio{{snd}}en Televisieomroep).

On 1 October 1945 INR-NIR began to broadcast some programmes in German. In 1961 RTB-BRT began a German-language radio channel, broadcasting from [[Liège]].

In 1977, following Belgian [[Federalism|federalization]] and the establishment of separate [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|language communities]], the French-language section of RTB-BRT became RTBF ({{langx|fr|Radio-Télévision Belge de la Communauté française|links=no}}), German-language section became [[Belgischer Rundfunk|BRF]] ({{langx|de|Belgischer Rundfunk|links=no}}) and Dutch-language stays BRT.

BRT was renamed in 1991 to BRTN ({{langx|nl|Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep Nederlandstalige Uitzendingen|links=no}}) and again in 1998 to VRT ({{langx|nl|Vlaamse Radio {{snd}}en Televisieomroeporganisatie}}).

==== Bulgaria ====
There are two public media in Bulgaria – the [[Bulgarian National Television]] (BNT) and the [[Bulgarian National Radio]] (BNR). [[Bulgarian National Television]] was founded in 1959 and the [[Bulgarian National Radio]] was founded in 1935. BNT broadcasts 4 national programs (BNT 1, BNT 2, BNT 3, BNT 4 – broadcasts internationally). The BNR broadcasts 2 national programs (Horizont and Hristo Botev Program), 9 regional programs and Internet Radio Binar.

==== Croatia ====
[[Croatian Radiotelevision]] ({{langx|hr|Hrvatska radiotelevizija|links=no}}, ''HRT'') is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. {{As of|2002}}, 70% of HRT's funding comes from broadcast user fees with each house in Croatia required to pay 79 HRK, kuna, per month for a single television (radio device, computer or smartphone), with the remainder being made up from advertising.

==== Czech Republic ====
[[Czech Television]] ({{langx|cs|Česká televize}}) and [[Czech Radio]] ({{langx|cs|Český rozhlas}}) are public broadcasters formed in 1992 to take over the Czech operations of the state-ran [[Czechoslovak Television]] and [[Czechoslovak Radio]], respectively. Until the [[Dissolution of Czechoslovakia|dissolution]] of [[Czechoslovakia]] in 1993, both broadcasters coexisted with their federal Czechoslovak counterparts, after which they also took over the channels previously occupied by the common federal broadcasting.

Czech Television broadcasts from three studios in [[Prague]], [[Brno]], and [[Ostrava]] and operates several TV channels: [[ČT1]], [[ČT2]], [[ČT24]], [[ČT sport]], [[ČT :D]], and [[ČT art]]. Czech television is funded through a monthly fee of 135 [[CZK]] which every household that owns a TV or a radio has to pay. Since October 2011 advertising on Czech TV is restricted to ČT 2 and ČT sport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zprávy z ekonomiky – ČeskéNoviny.cz |url=http://www.financninoviny.cz/zpravy/ct-1-a-ct24-konci-s-reklamou-bude-posouvat-vysilani/704310 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022032452/http://www.financninoviny.cz/zpravy/ct-1-a-ct24-konci-s-reklamou-bude-posouvat-vysilani/704310 |archive-date=22 October 2014 |access-date=13 October 2014}}</ref>

Czech Radio broadcasts four nationwide stations Radiožurnál, Dvojka, Vltava, and Plus, several regional and topical digital stations. It also provides an international service Radio Prague International, which broadcasts abroad in six languages. Czech Radio is funded through a monthly fee of 45 CZK.

Current general manager of Czech Television is Jan Souček, who was elected for a six-year term by the Czech Television Council ({{Langx|cs|Rada České televize}}). Souček has courted controversy in his tenure given his attack on free media<ref>{{Cite web |title='Pro zvané novináře.' Česká televize odmítla vpustit reportéry Deníku N a Seznam zpráv na brífink Součka |url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/pro-zvane-novinare-ceska-televize-odmitla-vpustit-reportery-deniku-n-a-seznam_2504251410_ako}}</ref> and his attacks on employees of Czech Television.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 2024 |title=Souček: Myslíte, že Moravec může říkat, co chce, kdy chce? Ne, bianco šek nevystavuju {{pipe}} Aktuálně.cz |url=https://video.aktualne.cz/spotlight/spotlight-rozhovor-jan-soucek-video/r~cc291744692211ef95ee0cc47ab5f122/}}</ref> Souček compared himself to Milada Horáková<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2025 |title=Byla to hloupost. Souček lituje přirovnání k Miladě Horákové - Novinky |url=https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/domaci-byla-to-hloupost-soucek-lituje-prirovnani-k-milade-horakove-40514933}}</ref> after strong criticism of his managerial skills from Czech Television Council. Souček later commented that it was silly from him. In an interview on 5. 9. 2023‌ Souček, as the incoming director general, stated: "I am constantly asking for money. A press conference of the Ministry of Culture has been announced for Tuesday, where the ministerial commission should reveal how it envisions the reform of financing public service media. According to my information, our call will be heard for the most part.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chci, aby ČT udávala trendy na digitálním trhu, říká nastupující generální ředitel Souček |url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/domaci/chci-aby-ct-udavala-trendy-na-digitalnim-trhu-rika-nastupujici-generalni-reditel-soucek-1881}}</ref>" During his tenure, Souček constantly asks for more money from the public fees, however it seems that he is not able to use money economically while blacking out financial documents to hide it from the public.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2025 |title=Šéf České televize dostal výtku. Za odstupné, začerňování smluv i způsob komunikace {{pipe}} Aktuálně.cz |url=https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/rada-ceske-televize-udelila-vytku-generalnimu-rediteli-souck/r~e6210172ff6111efb2180cc47ab5f122/}}</ref>

==== Denmark ====
[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] is the national public service broadcaster. The organisation was founded in 1925, on principles similar to those of the [[BBC]] in the United Kingdom. DR runs six nationwide television channels and eight radio channels. Financing comes primarily from a yearly licence fee, that everyone who owns either a television set, a computer or other devices that can access the internet, has to pay. A part of collected fees is also used to finance the network of [[TV 2 (Denmark)#Regions|regional public service stations]] operating under the brand of TV 2. [[TV 2 (Denmark)|TV 2]] itself, however, is a commercial government-owned television funded by subscriptions and advertising, with particular public service duties such as allowing regional stations to air their newscasts within specific timeslots of the main TV 2 channel.

==== Faroe Islands ====
[[Kringvarp Føroya]] is the organisation in Faroe Islands with public service obligations. Formed in 1957 as a radio broadcaster [[Útvarp Føroya]]. Merged with Sjónvarp Føroya TV station on 1 January 2007 to form [[Kringvarp Føroya]]. Funded by licence fees.

==== Estonia ====
[[Eesti Rahvusringhääling|Estonian Public Broadcasting]] (ERR) organises the public radio and television stations of Estonia. [[Eesti Televisioon]] (ETV), the public television station, made its first broadcast in 1955, and together with its sister channel [[ETV2]] has about 20% audience share.

==== Finland ====
[[Yle|Yle – The Finnish Broadcasting Company]], (pronounced /yle/) or Yleisradio (in Finnish) and Rundradion (in [[Swedish language|Swedish]]) is Finland's national public service media company. Founded in 1926, it is a public limited company majority owned by the Finnish state, employing around 2,800 people. Yle is funded by a special Yle tax. Yle has four television channels, three television channel slots, six nationwide radio channels and three radio services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 2018 |title=This is Yle |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/about-yle/this-is-yle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901051524/https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/about-yle/this-is-yle |archive-date=2019-09-01 |access-date=2019-09-20 |website=yle.fi}}</ref>

[[Yle TV1]] is the most viewed TV channel in Finland and [[Yle Radio Suomi]] the most popular radio channel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 April 2019 |title=The most used contents of the year |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/04/23/the-most-used-contents-of-the-year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307034832/https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/04/23/the-most-used-contents-of-the-year |archive-date=2023-03-07 |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=yle.fi}}</ref> Yle was the first of the Nordic public broadcasters to implement the Eurovision's portability regulation on its online media service Yle Areena.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 January 2019 |title=Is your permanent place of residence in Finland? You can now take all video content on Areena with you when travelling within the EU |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/01/02/is-your-permanent-place-of-residence-in-finland-you-can-now-take-all-video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603181529/https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/01/02/is-your-permanent-place-of-residence-in-finland-you-can-now-take-all-video |archive-date=2019-06-03 |access-date=2019-09-20 |website=yle.fi}}</ref> Yle Areena is the most used streaming service in Finland, beating even Netflix that is the most popular streaming service everywhere else.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 January 2019 |title=New study: Netflix continues to dominate the streaming market |url=https://www.audienceproject.com/blog/key-insights/new-study-netflix-dominates-streaming-market/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920113610/https://www.audienceproject.com/blog/key-insights/new-study-netflix-dominates-streaming-market/ |archive-date=20 September 2019 |access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref>

Yle focuses highly on developing its digital services. In 2016 a Reuters Institute study of European public service companies show that Yle and BBC are the public service pioneers in digital development and performing the best while introducing innovative digital services in their news operations, developing mobile services and promoting the development of new digital approaches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can public service news organisations stay competitive in a digital environment? |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/can-public-service-news-organisations-stay-competitive-digital-environment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306223247/https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/can-public-service-news-organisations-stay-competitive-digital-environment |archive-date=2023-03-06 |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism}}</ref> Yle's Voitto robot based on machine learning is the first personal news assistant in the world to give recommendations directly on the lock screen in the Yle NewsWatch application.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 October 2018 |title=The first of its kind in the world: Yle NewsWatch's smart Voitto assistant shows recommendations directly on the lock screen |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2018/10/12/the-first-of-its-kind-in-the-world-yle-newswatchs-smart-voitto-assistant-shows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604032143/https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2018/10/12/the-first-of-its-kind-in-the-world-yle-newswatchs-smart-voitto-assistant-shows |archive-date=2019-06-04 |access-date=2019-09-20 |website=yle.fi}}</ref>

==== France ====
In 1949 [[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]] (RTF – French television and radio broadcasting) was created to take over from the earlier [[Radiodiffusion française]] responsibility for the operation of the country's three public radio networks and the introduction of a public television service. [[Réseau France Outre-mer|RFO]] and a fourth radio network was added in 1954 and a second television channel in 1963.

RTF was transformed into the {{lang|fr|[[Office de radiodiffusion télévision française]]}} (ORTF), a more independent structure, in 1964. ORTF oversaw the introduction of a third television channel in 1972, two years before the dissolution of the structure in 1974. At that time a network of local and regional channels was created, nationally grouped under the [[France 3]] channel, and between this date and 2000, each national channel had its own direction structure, while being in [[France Télévision]] group. In 1984, the European channel [[TV5Monde]] is created. The first channel ([[TF1]]) was sold to the private sector in 1987. (At the time, the channel with the largest audience was the other public channel [[Antenne 2]]).

In 1986 [[La Sept]], another European channel, was created, before being eaten by the French/German public channel [[Arte]] in 1991, originally broadcast on cable and satellite. In 1992, the fall of the private channel [[La Cinq]] freed the frequencies that it had used, witch has been affected to [[Arte]] each day from 19.00 to 3. In 1994 a new public channel, [[France5|La cinquième]] was created and used the remaining time on the same frequencies. La cinquième and ARTE subsequently shared the same channels with the exception of satellite, cable, and internet channels where both could be broadcast all day long. As 31 March 2005 broadcast permitted to give plain channel to [[France5|La cinquième]], [[Arte]], [[France Ô]], and [[France 4]]. Moreover, [[Gulli]], a channel dedicated to kids, was partially owned by [[France Télévision]] between 2005 and 2014.

==== Germany ====
{{See also|Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio}}
After [[World War II]], when regional broadcasters had been merged into one national network by the [[Nazis]] to create a powerful means of propaganda, [[Allies of World War II|the Allies]] insisted on a de-centralised, independent structure for German public broadcasting and created regional public broadcasting agencies that, by and large, still exist today.
[[File:ARD_Karte.svg|thumb|Map of ARD-members]]

* [[Norddeutscher Rundfunk|NDR]] ([[Lower Saxony]], Hamburg, [[Schleswig-Holstein]] and [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]), split from former [[Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk|NWDR]]
* [[Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg|RBB]] ([[Berlin]] and [[Brandenburg]]), merged from SFB and ORB
* [[Südwestrundfunk|SWR]] ([[Baden-Württemberg]] and [[Rhineland-Palatinate]]), merged from SDR and SWF
* [[Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk|MDR]] ([[Saxony]], Saxony-Anhalt and [[Thuringia]]), established in 1991
* [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk|WDR]] ([[North Rhine-Westphalia]]), split from former NWDR
* [[Bayerischer Rundfunk|BR]] ([[Bavaria]])
* [[Hessischer Rundfunk|hr]] ([[Hesse]])
* [[Saarländischer Rundfunk|SR]] ([[Saarland]])
* [[Radio Bremen|RB]] ([[Bremen (state)|Bremen]])

In addition to these nine regional radio and TV broadcasters, which cooperate within [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]], a second national television service{{snd}}actually called Second German Television ({{langx|de|[[Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen]]}}, ZDF){{snd}}was later created in 1961 and a national radio service with two networks ([[Deutschlandradio]]) emerged from the remains of [[Cold War]] propaganda stations in 1994. All services are mainly financed through licence fees paid by every household and are governed by councils of representatives of the "[[Society|societally]] relevant groups". Public TV and radio stations spend about 60% of the ≈10bn&nbsp;€ spent altogether for broadcasting in Germany per year, making it the most well funded public broadcasting system in the world.

The ''Hans-Bredow-Institut'', or Hans-Bredow-Institute for Media Research at the University of Hamburg (HBI) is an independent non-profit foundation with the mission on media research on public communication, particularly for radio and television broadcasting (including public service media providers) and other electronic media, in an interdisciplinary fashion.<ref name="Khabyuk2011">{{Cite book |last=Khabyuk |first=Olexiy |title=Public Service Broadcasting: A German-Ukrainian Exchange of Opinions |author2=Manfred Kops |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |year=2011 |isbn=978-3643800947}}</ref><ref name="Chen2001">{{cite web |last=Chen |first=(程宗明) |date=2001-05-25 |title=International Connections for Public Media Research and Development [公共媒體研發之國際連線–以數位化知識為例(歐洲篇)] |url=http://rnd.pts.org.tw/p2/010528.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019105856/http://rnd.pts.org.tw/p2/010528.htm |archive-date=2013-10-19 |access-date=2013-09-08 |work=Public Television Service Foundation (Taiwan) 公共電視台研究發展部}}</ref><ref name="H2010">{{cite web |last=Mediennetz Hamburg [Hamburg Media Network] |date=2010-09-27 |title=Hans-Bredow-Institut für Medienforschung feierte seinen Geburtstag |url=http://www.mediennetz-hamburg.de/?MAIN=3&RECORD=460 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024160126/http://www.mediennetz-hamburg.de/?MAIN=3&RECORD=460 |archive-date=2013-10-24 |access-date=2013-09-08}}</ref>

In Germany foreign public broadcasters also exist. These are [[American Forces Network|AFN]] for US-military staff in Germany, [[BFBS]] for British military staff, Voice of Russia, RFE and Radio Liberty.

Eventually, [[Arte]] is a French/German cultural TV channel operated jointly by [[France Télévisions]], [[ZDF]], and [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]. It is a binational channel broadcast in both countries.

==== Greece ====
[[File:ERT_logo_2020.svg|thumb|ERT's logo]]
[[Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation]] (Greek: Ελληνική Ραδιοφωνία Τηλεόραση ή ERT) is the state-owned public broadcaster in Greece. It broadcasts five television channels: [[ERT1]], [[ERT2]], [[ERT3]] (located in Thessaloniki city),  [[ERT HD|ERT SPORTS HD]] are the terrestrial broadcast channels, as well as ERT WORLD, a satellite channel focused to the Greek diaspora. ERT is broadcasting also five national ([[First Programme (ERT)|ERA 1]], [[Second Programme (ERT)|ERA 2]], [[Third Programme (ERT)|ERA 3]], [[Kosmos (radio)|Kosmos]], [[ERA Sport]]), and 21 local radio stations (two of them located in Thessaloniki, the second major city of Greece). All national television and radio stations are broadcast through ERT digital multiplexes across the country and through satellite, via the two digital platforms (NOVA and Cosmote).

ERT also operates a web-TV service with a live transmition of all the terrestrial and satellite channels as well as 4 independent OTT channels (ERT PLAY 1, 2, 3 and 4) that carries mostly sport events and older archived shows.

ERT operates 8 television studios in three buildings in Athens: five of them in the headquarters called "Radiomegaro" ("Ραδιομέγαρο" that means "radio palace") located in Agia Paraskevi area, two of them in Katehaki str. facility and one small one in the center of Athens near the Parliament, in the Mourouzi str. facility. In Thessaloniki, ERT operates two television studios in the L. Stratou avenue and another three studios in smaller cities (Heraclion, Patras and Corfu) that can be used only for television correspondences.

ERT operates several radio studios in "Radiomegaro", in Thessaloniki (located at Aggelaki str., besides International Exhibition facility) and in 19 Greek cities, as well as a national news web site.

==== Iceland ====
[[RÚV|Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV)]] ("The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service") is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organisation. RÚV began radio broadcasting in 1930 and its first television transmissions were made in 1966. In both cases coverage quickly reached nearly every household in Iceland. RÚV is funded by a [[television licence]] fee collected from every income taxpayer, as well as advertising revenue. RÚV has been a full active member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]] since 1956.

RÚV{{snd}}which by the terms of its charter is obliged to "promote the Icelandic language, Icelandic history, and Iceland's cultural heritage" and "honour basic democratic rules, human rights, and the freedom of speech and opinion"<ref>{{Cite web |title=RÚV's official website (English-language version) |url=http://www.ruv.is/heim/english/english/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20060522223149/www.ruv.is/heim/english/english/ |archivedate=May 22, 2006}}</ref>{{snd}}carries a substantial amount of arts, media, and current affairs programming, in addition to which it also supplies general entertainment in the form of feature films and such internationally popular television drama series as ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' and ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''. RÚV's lineup also includes sports coverage, documentaries, domestically produced entertainment shows, and children's programming.

==== Ireland ====
In Ireland there are two state owned public service broadcasters, [[RTÉ]] and [[TG4]]. RTÉ was established in 1960 with the merger of {{lang|ga|Raidió Éireann}} (1926) and {{lang|ga|Teilifís Éireann}} (1960). TG4 was formed as a subsidiary of RTÉ in 1996 as {{lang|ga|Teilifís na Gaeilge}} (TnaG), it was renamed TG4 in 1999, and was made independent of RTÉ in 2007.

Both Irish public service broadcasters receive part of the licence fee, with RTÉ taking the lion's share of the funding. Advertising makes up 50% of RTÉ's income and just 6% of TG4's income. 7% of the licence fee is provided to the [[Broadcasting Authority of Ireland]] since 2006. Up to 2006 the licence fee was given entirely to RTÉ.

RTÉ offers a range of free to air services on television; [[RTÉ 1]], [[RTÉ 2]], [[RTÉjr]], and [[RTÉ News Now]]. On radio; [[RTÉ Radio 1]], [[RTÉ 2FM]], [[RTÉ Lyric FM]], and [[RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta]], as well as a number of channels on [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]].

The Sound and Vision Fund is operated by the [[Broadcasting Authority of Ireland]], this fund receives 7% of the licence fee. The fund is used to assist broadcasters to commission public service broadcast programming. It is open to all independent producers provided they the backing of a free-to-air or community broadcaster, such as [[TV3 (Ireland)|Virgin Media]], [[Today FM]], [[BBC]] Northern Ireland, [[RTÉ]], [[Channel 4]], [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]], etc. Pay TV broadcaster [[Setanta Sports]] have also received funding for programming through the Fund provided they make that programming available on a [[free-to-view]] basis.

[[TG4]] is an independent [[Irish language]] public service broadcaster that is funded by government subsidy, part of the licence fee, and through advertising revenue.

[[TV3 (Ireland)|Virgin Media]] is the only independent broadcaster that has public service commitments.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==== Lithuania ====
[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]] (LRT) is the national broadcaster of Lithuania. It was founded in 1926 as radio broadcaster, and opened a television broadcasting subdivision in 1957. LRT broadcasts three radio stations ([[LRT Radijas]], [[LRT Klasika]], and LRT Opus), and three TV channels ([[LRT televizija]], [[LRT Plius]], and [[LRT Lituanica]]).

==== Montenegro ====
[[RTCG]] (Radio Television of Montenegro) is the public broadcaster in Montenegro and maintains editorial independence from its government.

==== Netherlands ====
{{Main|Dutch public broadcasting system}}

The Netherlands uses a rather unusual system of public broadcasting. Public-broadcasting associations are allocated money and time to broadcast their programmes on the publicly owned television and radio channels, collectively known under the [[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep|NPO]] name. The time and money is allocated in proportion to their membership numbers. The system is intended to reflect the diversity of all the groups composing the nation and maintains editorial independence from the government.

==== Nordic countries ====
National public broadcasters in Nordic countries were modeled after the BBC and established a decade later: Radioordningen (now [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]) in Denmark, Kringkastingselskapet (now [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|NRK]]) in Norway, and Radiotjänst (now [[Sveriges Radio]] and [[Sveriges Television]]) in Sweden (all in 1925). In 1926 Yleisradio, (Swedish: Rundradion) now [[Yle]] was founded in Finland. [[RÚV|Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV)]] is the official public broadcast service in Iceland. All five are funded from television licence fees costing (in 2007) around {{€|230}} ({{USD|300}}) per household per year.<!--Add Iceland here? Faroe Islands?-->

==== Poland ====
{{update|section|date=December 2024}} {{more citations needed section|date=December 2024}}

[[Polskie Radio]] was seen to be the last remaining form of public broadcasting as [[Telewizja Polska]] (TVP) has been seen as [[state media]] during the [[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS government]] by various press freedom organisations due its strong bias in favour of the ruling party, with [[Reporters Without Borders]] calling it a government mouthpiece.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalan |first=Dariusz |date=2019-11-25 |title=Poland's State of the Media |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/25/poland-public-television-law-and-justice-pis-mouthpiece/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-02 |title=Poland {{!}} RSF |url=https://rsf.org/en/country/poland |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=rsf.org |language=en}}</ref>

[[Polskie Radio]] operates four nationwide radio channels (which are also available via the broadcaster's website). There are also 17 public radio stations broadcasting in particular regions. Polish Radio (and TVP) are funded from several sources: state funding, advertising, obligatory tax on all TV and radio receivers, and money from authors/copyright associations. The public broadcaster offers a mix of commercial shows and programmes they are, by law, required to broadcast (i.e., non-commercial, niche programmes; programmes for children; programmes promoting different points of view and diversity; programmes for different religious and national groups; live coverage of the parliament's session on its dedicated channel: TVP Parlament; etc.). It has to be politically neutral, although in the past there have been cases of political pressure on TVP and Polskie Radio from the governing party. Recently, a new law has been passed by the ruling Law & Justice party, that in public perception allowed the party to take a much larger control over the media that has been possible before. The party states this law to be the first step to a complete public media overdo. Many worry no such improvements are actually coming and that these recent laws are only another step in taking control over the whole country by the Law & Justice party.

There is an ongoing debate in Poland about the semi-commercial nature of TVP and PR. Many people fear that making them into totally non-commercial broadcasters would result in the licence fee payable by households being increased, and fewer people being interested in programmes they offer; others say that TVP in particular is too profit-driven and should concentrate on programming that benefits the society.

==== Serbia ====
[[Radio Television of Serbia]] (RTS) is the national public broadcaster in Serbia that does not have editorial independence from its government. It operates a total of five television channels (RTS1, RTS2, RTS Digital, RTS HD and RTS SAT) and five radio stations (Radio Belgrade&nbsp;1, Radio Belgrade&nbsp;2, Radio Belgrade&nbsp;3, Radio Belgrade 202, and Stereorama). RTS is primarily funded through public television licence fees bundled with electricity bills paid monthly, as well as advertising.<ref>{{cite web |title=Consumer protection group wants TV fees abolished |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2012&mm=06&dd=25&nav_id=80948 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019083435/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2012&mm=06&dd=25&nav_id=80948 |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |access-date=October 13, 2014 |work=B92}}</ref>

==== Spain ====
In Spain, being a highly decentralized country, two public broadcasting systems coexist: a national state-owned broadcasting corporation, [[RTVE|Radiotelevisión Española]] (RTVE), that does not have editorial independence from the state, and many autonomic broadcasting corporations, owned by their respective [[autonomous community]], which only broadcast within its own territory and many of which do have editorial independence.

Moreover, most autonomous communities have their own public broadcaster, almost all of these are members of [[FORTA]], and they usually tend to reproduce the model set up by RTVE. In the Autonomous Communities that have their own official language besides (Castilian) Spanish, those channels may broadcast in that co-official language. For example, this occurs in [[Catalonia]], where [[Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals|CCMA]]'s [[Catalunya Ràdio]] stations and [[Televisió de Catalunya]] channels broadcast in [[Catalan language|Catalan]]. In the [[Valencian Community]], [[CVMC]] has a radio station and a television channel, both branded as À Punt<ref>{{cite web |title=À Punt Mèdia |url=https://www.apuntmedia.es/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309031107/https://www.apuntmedia.es/ |archive-date=2021-03-09 |access-date=2020-02-01 |website=À Punt Mèdia, the public valencian media}}</ref> and broadcast mainly in [[Valencian language|Valencian]]. In the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], [[EITB]]'s Eusko Irratia stations and Euskal Telebista (ETB) channels broadcast in either [[Basque language|Basque]] or Spanish. In [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], [[Corporación Radio e Televisión de Galicia|CRTVG]]'s Radio Galega stations  and [[Televisión de Galicia]] (TVG) channels broadcast in [[Galician language|Galician]]. All the autonomous community networks are funded by a mixture of public subsidies and private advertising.

==== Sweden ====
[[File:SVT_2016.svg|thumb|The logo of SVT]]
[[File:Sveriges-Radio-Logo.svg|thumb|The logo of Sveriges Radio]]
Sweden has three public service broadcasters, namely [[Sveriges Television]] (SVT), [[Sveriges Utbildningsradio]] (UR),{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} and [[Sveriges Radio]] (SR), having previously had government monopoly. SVT is the national public television broadcaster with 4 channels (SVT 1, SVT 2, SVT BarnKanalen, and SVT 24). The aim is to make programmes for everybody. For example, Sweden has the historic [[Sami people|Sami]] minority and SVT make programmes in their language for them to watch. There are also a Finnish minority in Sweden, thus SVT show news in Finnish on [[SVT Uutiset]]. SR is the radio equivalent of SVT, with channels P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and the Finnish channel SR Sisuradio.

==== Ukraine ====
{{Main|Suspilne}}

[[File:Suspilne_movlennia_(2022).svg|thumb|The logo of Suspilne]]
[[Suspilne|Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine]] (Suspilne) is the national public broadcaster in Ukraine. It operates two national TV channels: [[Pershyi]] and [[Suspilne Kultura]], along with 24 regional channels. Suspilne broadcasts on 3 national and 1 international radio channels: [[Ukrainian Radio]], Radio Promin, Radio Kultura and [[Radio Ukraine International]]. The regional branches have their broadcasting slots in the broadcast schedule of the Ukrainian Radio.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==== United Kingdom ====
{{main|Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom}}

The United Kingdom has a strong tradition of public service broadcasting. In addition to the [[BBC]], established in 1922, there is also [[Channel 4]], a publicly owned, commercially funded public service broadcaster, and [[S4C]], a Welsh-language broadcaster in Wales. Furthermore, the two commercial broadcasters [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] and [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]] also have significant public service obligations imposed as part of their licence to broadcast.

In the UK there are also small community broadcasters. There are now 228 stations with FM broadcast licences (licensed by [[Ofcom]]). Community radio stations typically cover a small geographical area with a coverage radius of up to {{convert|5|km}} and run on a nonprofit basis. They can cater for whole communities or for different areas of interest{{snd}}such as a particular ethnic group, age group or interest group. Community radio stations reflect a diverse mix of cultures and interests. There are stations catering to urban or experimental music, while others are aimed at younger people, religious communities or the armed forces and their families.

=== Oceania ===

==== Australia ====
In Australia, the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) is owned by the [[Government of Australia|Australian Government]] and is 100% taxpayer funded. The multicultural [[Special Broadcasting Service]] (SBS), another public broadcaster, now accepts limited sponsorship and advertising.

In addition, there is a large Australian [[community radio]] sector, funded in part by federal grants via the Community Broadcasting Foundation, but largely sustained via subscriptions, donations and business sponsorship. As of February 2020, there are 450+ fully licensed community radio stations<ref>{{cite news |date=14 November 2014 |title=About Community Broadcasting |url=https://www.cbaa.org.au/about/about-community-broadcasting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228092800/https://www.cbaa.org.au/about/about-community-broadcasting |archive-date=28 February 2020 |access-date=15 February 2020 |newspaper=Community Broadcasting Association of Australia}}</ref> and a number of [[community television]] stations (most operating as [[Channel 31 (Australia)|Channel 31]] despite being unrelated across different states). They are organised similarly to PBS and NPR stations in the United States, and take on the role that [[public access television]] stations have in the US.

==== New Zealand ====
{{main|Public broadcasting in New Zealand}}

In New Zealand all broadcasters are given a small slice of public broadcasting responsibility, because of the state-funded agency [[NZ On Air]]. This is because of NZ On Air's requirement for public-service programmes across all channels and stations, instead of being put into one single network. The former public broadcaster BCNZ (formerly NZBC – [[New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation]]) was broken up into separate state-owned corporations, [[Television New Zealand]] (TVNZ) and [[Radio New Zealand]] (RNZ). While RNZ remains commercial-free, TVNZ is commercially funded through advertising.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Television New Zealand Act 2003 No 1 (as at 28 October 2021), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation |url=https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0001/latest/whole.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418020705/https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0001/latest/whole.html |archive-date=2023-04-18 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=legislation.govt.nz}}</ref> TVNZ continues to be a public broadcaster; however like [[CBC Television]] in Canada it is essentially a fully commercial network in continuous ratings battles with other stations, which continues to be a [[TVNZ#Controversies|controversial issue]] within New Zealand. With the shutdown of TVNZ&nbsp;7, the only fully non-commercial public-service network in New Zealand is [[Radio New Zealand]].

Aside from television, New Zealand has a rich public radio culture, [[Radio New Zealand]] being the main provider, with a varied network ([[Radio New Zealand National]]) and a classical musical network ([[Radio New Zealand Concert]]). RNZ also provides the Pacific with its [[Radio New Zealand International]]. Aside from RNZ almost all of [[Regions of New Zealand|New Zealand's 16 regions]] has an "[[Association of Community Access Broadcasters|access radio]]" network. All these networks are commercial-free.<ref name="Te Ara">{{cite web |last1=McMillan |first1=Kate |title=Media and politics – Ownership and Regulation |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/media-and-politics/page-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130040916/https://teara.govt.nz/en/media-and-politics/page-2 |archive-date=30 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020 |publisher=Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand}}</ref>

In late January 2020, the [[Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand|Labour-led coalition government]] announced that they were planning to merge TVNZ and Radio New Zealand to create a new public broadcasting service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Jane |date=29 January 2020 |title=New details revealed as Cabinet agrees on RNZ, TVNZ public broadcasting decision |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/408355/new-details-revealed-as-cabinet-agrees-on-rnz-tvnz-public-broadcasting-decision |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128215229/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/408355/new-details-revealed-as-cabinet-agrees-on-rnz-tvnz-public-broadcasting-decision |archive-date=28 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 2020 |title=PM: Potential RNZ-TVNZ merger would not harm commercial broadcasters |url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-country/audio/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-needs-a-public-broadcaster-to-tell-local-stories/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130050059/https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-country/audio/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-needs-a-public-broadcaster-to-tell-local-stories/ |archive-date=30 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020 |work=[[Newstalk ZB]]}}</ref> In response, the opposition [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] announced that it would oppose any plans to merge Radio NZ and TVNZ.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 2020 |title=National threatens to drop RNZ-TVNZ merger if elected |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12304374 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129161933/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12304374 |archive-date=29 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020 |work=[[New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of public broadcasters by country]]
* [[Community broadcasting]]
* [[Editorial independence]]
* [[Independent media]]
* [[International broadcasting]]
* [[Nonprofit journalism]]
* [[Press freedom]]
* [[Public service journalism]]

== Citations ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== General and cited references ==
* {{Cite book|title=Public service broadcasting in the age of globalization|editor1-first=Indrajit|editor1-last=Banerjee|editor2-first=Kalinga|editor2-last=Seneviratne|publisher=Asian Media Information and Communication Centre|year=2006|isbn=981-4136-01-8}}
* {{Cite book |title=Public broadcasting for the 21st century|volume=17|series=Acamedia research monographs|first=Marc|last=Raboy|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1995|isbn=1-86020-006-0}}
*Linke, Benjamin (2016), ''Public Financing of Public Service Broadcasting and its Qualification as State Aid'', Peter Lang, {{ISBN|978-3-631-66568-8}}
* {{Cite book |title=Public service broadcasting in transition: a documentary reader|first1=Monroe Edwin|last1=Price|first2=Marc|last2=Raboy|publisher=Kluwer Law International|year=2003|isbn=90-411-2212-5|url=http://cgcs.asc.upenn.edu/fileLibrary/PDFs/PSB_in_Transition.pdf|access-date=2011-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117172904/http://cgcs.asc.upenn.edu/fileLibrary/PDFs/PSB_in_Transition.pdf|archive-date=2012-01-17|url-status=dead}}

==External links==
* [https://www.pmcc.org Public Media Content Collective]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051031032200/http://www.article19.org/pdfs/standards/modelpsblaw.pdf A Model Public Service Broadcasting Law] (2005) by [[Article 19]]
* [https://www.airmedia.org AIR, the Association for Independents in Radio]

=== By country ===

* [http://www.apts.org America's Public Television Stations]
* [http://americanarchive.org American Archive of Public Broadcasting]
* [http://www.radiopomost.pl The Public Polish Radio Program Directors Association]

{{Broadcasting}}
{{Public services}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Public broadcasting| ]]
[[Category:Radio formats]]