Crisis and Politicization of Radio and Television Public Service Broadcasting in Spain

Most research shows that the main problems for public service broadcasting (PSB) are the increase of private operators, the identity crisis resulting from increased supply, funding difficulties, and adapting to challenges brought about by digitization of networks and new derivatives and communicative uses of the Internet and new media. In Spain’s case, government interference, which has characterized the Spanish PSB throughout most of its history, should be added. As a result the degree of disaffection of citizens with public television in Spain is significantly higher than in other European countries. This encourages a private sector eager to move in and turn PSB into something merely symbolic. Harassment and erosion of PSB in the last two years has had an impact both at national (RTVE) and regional (RTV) levels.