OSCE media freedom representative welcomes reforms of public television financing in Spain, Georgia

VIENNA, 19 January 2010 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, welcomed today recently implemented broadcast financing reforms in Spain and Georgia, commending both countries for "making public television both more independent and more in service of the public".

"I am pleased to see that an increasing number of OSCE participating States have decided to support the independence of public-service television by establishing a financing method that automates the flow of its revenues, guarantees it for years ahead and weakens dependence on advertising," he said.

On 1 January, Spain removed advertising from TVE, the national public broadcaster. The reform guarantees TVE several financial resources for three consecutive years, including from taxes levied on frequency users, commercial broadcasters and telecommunications operators. It will also be guaranteed a state subsidy.

"The Spanish reform not only eliminates advertising on public channels, but it also strengthens their ability to perform their public duties," Haraszti said.

Moreover, in the first 10 days of the new regime, general audience share jumped from 16 to 20 per cent, and in prime time from 22 to 30 per cent, according to a study cited by Spanish newspaper El Pais.

In Georgia, the Parliament amended the Law on Broadcasting, which now stipulates that annual funding of the Georgian Public Broadcaster should be equal or superior to 0.12 per cent of the country's gross domestic product. Georgia had a similar system until 2008, with 0.15 per cent of GDP guaranteed as the broadcaster's revenue. Prime-time advertisements are banned on Georgian public television, except during sport events.

"Georgia had pioneered the GDP-based financing of public television, and I am glad it has returned to this method, albeit with a lesser amount guaranteed. I see this as an affirmation of the principle that television must be exempt from government influences," Haraszti said.

"Along with a similar reform in France already in motion, the Spanish and the Georgian financing ideas demonstrate new, innovative ways to secure public-service broadcasting as an essential institution of democracy."