The Great Global Switch Off

In January of last year Polis and Oxfam released a report written by former broadcasting executive Phil Harding called The Great Global Switch Off: International Coverage in UK Public Service Broadcasting.

The report warns of  the danger that under the new PSB regime being negotiated  by Ofcom and the DCMS, international coverage will decrease.  It also claims that many broadcasters do not have strategies in place to stop this from happening. In his report Mr. Harding argues the need for more, not less, international coverage since so many global issues such as finance, climate change and migration now affect all of us.

In my first post I expressed similar fears for the fate of international coverage in the digital age. So I was pleased to read an article today that had something positive to say about digitalization and public service broadcasting.

Radio and TV Montenegro (RTCG) has launched a new digitally equipped editing studio thanks to a multi-million Euro project set up by the European Union.  The EU is helping the country with its transformation from analogue to digital technology.

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic (R) interacts with Internet users during an online chat-session. (REUTERS)

The EU is hoping that by improving the Montenegrin public broadcasting service this will lead to a more open and democratic society. The better the quality of news programmes provided by the broadcaster the better informed Montenegro’s population will be. Providing the station with a modern, computerised newsroom will allow the RTCG staff to generate a much higher quality of programming.

The EU will be providing a total of €3 million in assistance. Ambassador Leopold Maurer, the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, was there to celebrate the launch.

“Montenegro’s strategy is in line with the European Union in this area. Public service broadcasting is one of the key elements of the so called “media democracy” which promotes a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of society, and enhances democratic values,” Ambassador Maurer.

And as you can see from this video the station was in need of a little refurbishment.

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