PSM-AP: PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA IN THE AGE OF PLATFORMS
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: School of Media & Communication
Abstract
PSM-AP asks how the cultural and social values of public service media (PSM) are being transformed by the rise of global streaming platforms and what factors are propelling or inhibiting change in different national contexts. For almost 100 years, PSM have played a central role in European culture and society. However, in the past decade, PSM have begun to be transformed by 'platformisation', a particular facet of digitalisation in which a small number of global platforms (Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple) dominate the digital media landscape. PSM organisations have responded by developing new production, delivery and aesthetic practices that could alter, undermine or enhance the value that they provide to society and culture. To understand how and why platformisation is transforming PSM, this project will use a comparative framework based on the six public service values of universality, independence, excellence, diversity, accountability and innovation outlined by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU, n.d.). This framework will be used to analyse 130 in-depth interviews with commissioning, channel/service, curation and audience research teams, the programmes and catalogues of PSM organisations, and trade, regulatory and policy documents in six countries (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Poland, UK). Contextualised in relation to wider data on the governance, media markets and cultures in each country, this comparative analysis will deliver a clearer understanding not only of how platformisation is transforming PSM across Europe, but also the national, international and transnational factors that are propelling or inhibiting change. Knowledge exchange with, and dissemination to, stakeholders and publics through industry workshops, reports, policy briefs, blogs and press articles, will enable the translation of the research findings into industry and policy recommendations at national and transnational levels, aimed at securing the ongoing public value of PSM.
Publications
Bruun H
(2024)
Fremtidssikrede public service-medier i Danmark?
Bruun H
(2025)
Publishing public service media on demand: A comparative study of public service media companies' editorial practices on their VoD services in the age of platformization
in Journal of Digital Media & Policy
Bruun H
(2025)
Streaming af public service-tv i platformenes tid
Bruun H
(2025)
Streaming Public Service Television in the Age of Platforms
Glowacki M
(2024)
Media publiczne w erze platform: Telewizja czy Platforma?
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AH/X005739/1 | 01/11/2022 | 30/07/2023 | £478,603 | ||
| AH/X005739/2 | Transfer | AH/X005739/1 | 31/07/2023 | 31/10/2025 | £379,419 |
| Description | The overarching aim of PSM-AP is to understand the ways in which public service media (PSM) organisations, regulators and policymakers are responding to the changes wrought by the growth of global platforms and the impact that this might have on the social and cultural values underpinning PSM. At this stage in the project we have completed all data collection and analysis for work package 1 (regulation) and work package 2 (organisational practices). We have also completed the VoD and scheduling analysis for work package 3 and are finalising the programme analysis. The results of this analysis in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Poland and the UK found some similarities in the challenges presented by the rise of platforms for PSM as well as some significant differences. PSM organisations in all countries are experiencing challenges with maintaining audience reach, although this varies depending on multiple factors, including wider digital uptake/inclusion, legitimacy of PSM, infrastructure for delivering TV, the rate of change of audience viewing habits. As a consequence, there are a variety of approaches to transition to digital-first provision of PSM, from more mature markets, such as the UK, to markets still significantly shaped by the need to retain linear broadcasting. Regardless, however, path dependencies were apparent across all PSM organisations, with linear thinking often still dominating and PSMs finding it challenging to integrate digital skills and adapt to new modes of working. At the same time, we found significant differences in the genre diversity of content on PSM's video-on-demand (VoD) services compared to their linear channels, with news largely being left to linear broadcasting and the most prominent programmes on (VoD) aping those genres found on subscription VoDs, like Netflix. Combined these results are starting to paint a picture of how the age of platforms is impacting the values of PSM. Our research found that universality (in which PSM should be freely available and accessible to all citizens) has emerged as a value under threat as audiences spend less time with PSM and are fragmented across a wider range of services. Meeting the needs of diverse audiences and providing a plurality of content was often positioned as being in conflict with universality, with some PSMs arguing that providing diverse content undermined their ability to attract audiences to their services and maintain universality, while others argued that diversity supported universality. At the same time, financial constraints were leading many PSMs to focus on commissioning 'fewer bigger' titles, which has potential impacts on the diversity of programming produced. Platformisation raises new questions around accountability, particularly data and algorithmic transparency, which are treated differently according to regulatory context. And all PSMs discussed innovation as essential in responding to platforms. Two additional values emerged strongly across our research. First, trust was utilised by PSM as a way of defending and justifying the importance of PSM particularly in the wake of dis/misinformation on social media and video sharing sites. Second, protecting national culture(s) and national creative economies was also regularly used to justify continued regulatory support for PSM. |
| Exploitation Route | We have had a great deal of interest in the research, as evidenced from the list of engagement activities, including multiple invitations to present/share the research in academic, industry and policy/regulatory contexts. In academic terms, the outcomes of the research is likely to have the following impacts: 1) shaping debates about how we conduct comparative research, particularly of PSM; 2) expanding our understanding of how PSM is being impacted by platformisation in different contexts; 3) increasing our understanding of shared challenges across contexts alongside a greater understanding of how contextual factors are shaping national/market differences. In relation to industry, our research is already being used to help PSMs to think about how they might adapt to the challenges of platformisation, particularly through our policy briefs and KE workshops. This includes areas such as, how to implement prominence, organisational transformation, approaches to personalisation. Similarly, our research is already informing policy discourses, including implementation of prominence regulation introduced in the Media Act 2024, reviews of PSM performance (including BBC Charter Review), debates about the future of broadcast television and PSM, and debates about the independence of PSM. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Government Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://psm-ap.com/ |
| Description | The findings have been informing Ofcom's implementation of the Media Act in the UK. The Media Act introduces new prominence requirements in which PSM VoD services need to be prominent in the most-used connected devices, and public service remit content needs to be prominent within PSM VoD services. We held a workshop with Ofcom to share findings from the PSM-AP project. Participants at this workshop who provided us with feedback said that they were very or somewhat likely to change the way they approach their work following the workshop. After the workshop we were invited to discuss the findings further with the Ofcom team specifically responsible for implementing prominence, where we shared with them our recommendations for implementation of this part of the Media Act. Ofcom have yet to publish their decisions in this area, but feedback from Ofcom indicates that our research has helped to inform their thinking and expand their evidence base. Our KE workshop in Brussels in January 2024 also contributed to international debates and understanding of prominence. Of those that provided feedback, all said that the workshop enhanced their understanding of issues related to prominence and changed the way that they approach questions of personalisation, curation and algorithms. Respondents also commented positively on learning about different perspectives on prominence and personalisation and gaining insights into the practices of different PSMs from across Europe. The event gave them new arguments to use in advocating for the importance of PSM and encouraged them to look at the issue more holistically to formulate better policy recommendations. Our KE workshop in Warsaw in January 2025 brought together PSMs and academics to explore the organisational challenges facing PSMs. Our feedback responses showed that the workshop improved people's understanding of the responses of PSM organisations, regulators and policymakers to the rise of global platforms and the organisation challenges facing PSM in different contexts. The vast majority of respondents claimed that the workshop changed their thinking about how to transform the organisational cultures and working practices of PSM (91%) and changed the way that they would approach their work following the workshop (96%). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | DCMS Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Expanding the Evidence Base for UK Public Service Media and Audiovisual Policymaking |
| Amount | £55,223 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2024 |
| End | 07/2025 |
| Title | Video-on-demand prominence analysis |
| Description | The project has innovated methods for analysing the prominence of content within the video-on-demand services of public service media organisations, adapting qualitative methods created for commercial services to public service media services and including testing of personalisation. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The method is informing wider debates about how to evaluate the prominence of public service media content in the UK and Europe and has been presented to the UK media regulator, Ofcom. |
| Description | Beeb Watch podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed of Catherine Johnson (PSM-AP PL) by Roger Bolton for his Beeb Watch podcast, in a half hour episode that explored different aspects of the challenges faced by PSB, drawing on PSM-AP research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://shows.acast.com/rogerboltonsbeebwatch/episodes/prof-catherine-johnson-discusses-the-decline-... |
| Description | Debate at Civic Pact for PSM in Warsaw |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Michal Glowacki (PI on PSM-AP) participated in a civic debate for the Civic Pact for Public Service Media about the future of PSM in Poland. The event was held at Terminal Kultury Goclaw in Warsaw. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Debate on PSM in Poland hosted by the Citizens Pact for PSM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Michal Glowacki (PI on PSM-AP project) gave a talk and participated in a public debate hosted by the Citizens Pact for PSM about the future of PSM in Poland which took place a the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Discussion on political change and the Media at the Erich-Brost-Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Michal Glowacki (PI on the PSM-AP project) participated in a panel discussion on political change and the media, focusing on the Polish case. This took place at the Erich Brost Institute in Dortmund, Germany. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.europe-direct-dortmund.de/event/political-change-and-the-media-the-polish-czech-estonian... |
| Description | Essay published in Magtudredningen 2.0 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Hanne Bruun published essay 'Online public service-tv i Danmark: ideal, politik og praksis' in Magtudredningen 2.0, a Danish parliament research based initative which focuses on discussing power and the status of the Danish democracy. The publication is aimed at the general public and lead by professor Michael Bang Pedersen based in the department of political science at Aarhus University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ps.au.dk/forskning/forskningsprojekter/magtudredningen2/baggrunden-for-magtudredningen-20 |
| Description | International Broadcasting Trust report and launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Catherine Johnson (PSM-AP PL) was interviewed for report by third sector organisation, the International Broadcasting Trust, which campaigns for better coverage of international issues in broadcasting on behalf of charities, such as Oxfam. She was then invited to give a presentation and participate in a panel discussion at the report launch hosted at the Palace of Westminster in the UK. This led to ongoing discussions about a further research collaboration with the IBT and greater awareness of the project amongst the third sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ibt.org.uk/reports/fighting-for-space-international-content-and-the-future-of-public-service... |
| Description | Interview for radio programme The Culture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Julie Mejse Munter Lassen gave interview on the media's role in creating cohesion and joint national conversations for radio programme The Culture. The interview was broadcast live on the Danish Broadcasting Corporation's linear radio channel and subsequently published as a podcast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interview for the IAPMR Newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Michal Glowacki was interviewed for the International Association of Public Media Researchers (IAPMR) newsletter 5th issue. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://mailchi.mp/f3abbe82c809/reminder-submission-deadline-for-ripe2022-is-approaching-9160345?e=6... |
| Description | Knowledge Exchange Workshop 1 - Brussels |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We held the first Knowledge Exchange Workshop for the project in Brussels in January 2024. The Workshop was hosted by the Flemish PSM, VRT, in their main building. The morning focused on policy and regulatory debates related to PSM and prominence and was attended by representatives of PSM organisations in 9 countries, commercial media organisations, policymakers, regulators and representatives from the European Broadcasting Union. We presented and discussed findings from Work Package 1 and shared our comparative industry report. The afternoon was a closed workshop with representatives from PSM organisations from 9 countries which focused on personalisation and curation of VOD services. We presented initial findings from Work Package 3 and curated a discussion about the challenges of balancing algorithmic personalisation and curation. The workshop resulted in an invitation to present at the EBU's Legal and Policy conference in April 2024, and requests from the PSM participants to share the notes and findings stemming from the discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://psm-ap.com/knowledge-exchange-workshop-2024-in-brussels/ |
| Description | Knowledge Exchange Workshop 2 - Warsaw |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Our PSM-AP project's second Knowledge Exchange Workshop took place in Warsaw from January 22-24, 2025. The workshop, titled 'Reinventing Public Service Media for the Age of Platforms: Organisation, Culture and Independence', was produced in collaboration with REBOOT and The University of Warsaw, with additional local co-organisation from the art gallery Zacheta, the Polish public broadcaster TVP and Citizens' Pact for Public Media. Held in TVP's broadcasting studios, the first day included a keynote from Sasha Scott, our project's partner from the European Broadcast Union, followed by presentations of our project's findings and two plenary discussions featuring PSM practitioners and experts. The second day included a closed discussion between PSM representatives and academics about reinventing PSM independence, with a focus on the European Media Freedom Act and its provisions on governance and funding in the light of democratic citizen-state relationships. The workshop was attended by representatives of PSM organisations from 6 countries, non-government organisations, and academics. The workshop resulted in the sharing of two of our project's policy briefs, and inter-institutional exchanges of strategies for organisational resilience in the face of political and cultural pressures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://psm-ap.com/psm-ap-knowledge-exchange-workshop-in-warsaw/ |
| Description | Presentation for the Danish media studies teachers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Julie Mejse Munter Lassen delivered the presentation 'Public service television in a time of unrest and upheaval' to media studies teachers working at Ørestad Gymnasium upper secondary school in Copenhagen. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation to CEO of Strategy at DR |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the PSM-AP project by Hanne Bruun and Julie Munter Lassen (PI and RF on PSM-AP project) to the CEO of Strategy and Users and his team at DR (Danish PSM). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation to board and management of Danish Broadcasting Corporation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Julie Mejse Munter Lassen delivered presentation and dialogue at seminar for Danish Broadcasting Coporation's management and board at DR Bornholm, Rønne, Denmark. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk at the Radio and TV Council of the Cultural Ministry in Denmark |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Talk by Hanne Bruun (PI on PSM-AP) on WP1 and WP3 funding on PSM in Europe and the case of Denmark in the context, to the Radio and TV Council (the Danish regulator) a the Cultural Ministry in Denmark. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk at workshop on state aid regulation for Nordic PSM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | One hour talk but Hanne Bruun (PI on the PSM-AP project) on Nordic PSM and platformisation as part of a wider workshop on state aid regulations. The workshop was attended by all of the Nordic PSMs and the EBU. It was organised by Nordvision (the Nordic netowrk for production and distribution of PSM content) and hosted by DR (Danish PSM) in Copenhagen. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk on public service media in Europe delivered to The Radio and Television Council of Denmark |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation by Hanne Bruun on public service media in Europe and the case of Denmark in this context. The presentation was hosted by The Radio and Television Council, who are the Danish regulator. It took place at the The Agency for Culture and Palaces at the Cultural Ministry Denmark in Copenhagen. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | VLV autumn conference 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Participation by Catherine Johnson (PSM-AP PL) in a panel discussion at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer autumn conference drawing on PSM-AP work on the future of PSM in the UK. The VLV is a third sector organisation that campaigns for the future of PSM in the UK. The panel let to engagement with a number of third party organisations that campaign for the public interest in media in the UK and Europe and an invitation to become a Trustee of the VLV. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.vlv.org.uk/recent-events/vlv-autumn-conference-2023-2/ |
| Description | Westminster Media Forum Conference Mar 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Keynote address by Catherine Johnson (PSM-AP PL) to the Westminster Media Forum conference on 'The Audiovisual Sector Following the Media Bill' drawing on PSM-AP analysis of media regulation and policy. Led to contact from BT who were keen to discuss the research further. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/publication/Media-bill-24 |