Abstract
With media consumption on mobile devices advancing around the world and the media market implementing next-generation key technologies such as AI and social big data analysis offered by GAFA and other global IT companies, the media environment and people’s communication style are dramatically changing. Under these circumstances, public service broadcasters (PSBs) keep losing the “broadcasting” and “online service” shares across the globe, which is particularly accelerated among the young users. Such situation makes it difficult for PSBs to provide basic public services. Meanwhile, to respond to these changes, PSBs in EU countries have been trying to transform themselves to “public service media (PSM)” over ten years and proactively adopting new technologies into their public services. However, European PSM at the moment are forced stagnate new technological innovations and service developments affected by GAFA and other major players’ global market domination and technological monopolies. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and some other organizations have expressed strong concern over this situation. This paper reviews the current challenges, countering strategies, and innovation initiatives of European PSM, which should serve as a preceding example of NHK’s “turning PSM,” based on related materials including the EBU’s “Vision2020: Our Strategic Objectives 2017.” Then the author examines the inherent “possibilities” and “limits” of European PSM’s innovation initiatives. Finally, the paper discusses the future vision of the PSM’s innovations.
