Untitled Document

Field study completed : Two Countries( Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan).( Report will be ready soon)

The first phase was devoted to more with discussions with many experts and mentors about the project document. A lot of changes took place in the document. it was well refined. The preliminary literature/documents on PSB collected. The papers of the AIBD/UNESCO PSB seminars in Almaty and Bishkek was collected for review of PSB situation in Central Asia

The project document was again discussed with Director, Media Network and experts of the OSI March seminar . The Media network group gave me a lot of contact details to carry out further research on this issue.

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Report on the the research findings of the field study conducted in Kazakhstan

Report on the the research findings of the field study conducted in Kyrgyzstan

The following is the research findings of the field studies conducted in Tajikistan

The objectives of the present research study was to
• Describe major trends and situation in the field of Public Service broadcasting in Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
• Examine the Opportunities and limitations of legal and structural changes in Public Service Broadcasting in Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
• Look into some positive/negative examples and experiences of public service broadcasting in Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
• Recommend policy strategies for future in Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Major Trends in the Broadcasting Scenario of Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Over the last decade, the broadcasting in Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had experienced five important challenges:Transition,Consolidation,Democratisation, legislation, Competition , Commercialization, struggle for free and independent media

All broadcasters in Central Asia are facing phenomenal challenges because of increased pressure from civil societies to make it more free and independnt. The broadcasters are facing strong competion for audiences, which are fragmented. Earlier, most public service broadcasters had worked in monopolistic paradigm. The whole legal and structural framework derived from this monopolistic paradigm. All decisions, descriptions, actions completely suited to the environment where competition, free and independnt media were completely absent.

This paradigm is highly unsuitable and inappropriate to the present environment. Today, due to advent of challnels ,there are many channels and there are many alternatives. Audience is watching different channels. The revenue of those public service broadcasters is getting fragmented as advertising revenue gets fragmented. So, the environment is extremely competitive.

The process of democratization of society as well as broadcasting began in the early 90’s. Even though broadcasters enjoyed a monopoly, a reduction in the proportion of budgetary support, combined with pressures to open up media sector to private and NGO enterprises puts the policy makers to change the media legislation as soon as possible.

Many broadcasters sell airtime on the basis of the size of its viewership, they began to look for ways and means of increasing its share as the media market became increasingly more competitive. This resulted in a reduction in emphasis on public service programmes, as the prime time was reserved for commercial programming which earned the most revenue. Radio is undergoing a similar process, though to a lesser extent.

There is then the technological environment. There is a tremendous change in broadcast technologies. It stared with satellite revolution and digitalization where you have many many channels are reaching your door-step. You can receive this on satellite, distribute them in cable, receive them small direct-to-home (DTH) dishes with the proliferation of television. There has been very recently a growth in direct radio broadcasting where you can receive directly hundred of radio channels on a small receiver not with dish antennae but with very small antennae like tape. There has been proliferation of channels and the technological environment has changed. The Internet has made even a bigger change. On the Internet today, you can get streaming video and audio and whole host of multimedia. This has changed the whole technologies where you are.

The consolidation is happening among major media players across central asia.People are getting restless to have completely independent media from from government controls. Of course, there are a lot of private commercial stations working , but by and large , the whole broadcasing industry is under the government control.

“ Public Service Broadcasters” in Asia are many times reffered as synonym with state broadcasters or National broadcasters. One of key reaosns for ascribing the status is that they are more or less performing public service functions of the media.But it too simplistic and wrong if we consider all state-owned /national public broadcasters are public service broadcasters. The following analysis will reveal thet it is not necessarily true that all the state-owned national broadcasters are truly public broadcasters. This brings us to a question: What is Public Service broadcasting?

Many media experts term " Indepedent media" any media which is not under the control of state. So, Indepent media refers to those Radio and Television channels which may be commercial, privately owned or any owned by Non-governemntal organisation ( non-profit)

Public Service Broadcasting is defined is the broadcasting made for the Public, funded by the Public and controlled by the public. Essentially, it emphasizes on public participation in ownership, control, funding and programming of broadcasting. The word “public” refers to the entire population of the country or region that the public broadcaster is responsible for serving.

From the above definition, it is very clear that all the state/national broadcasters in Central Asia may not be categorized as a “ Public Service Broadcaster”. But they may be a poor or non-representative form of Public Service Broadcasters as they have essentially few components/ characteristics of Public Broadcasters.

In this context, following Questions are raised in relations to state-owned broadcasters within the purview of essential characteristics of a public broadcaster :

Analysis of "What is not Public Broadcasting in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan "

o The state-owned /National broadcasters are not private(commercially driven) broadcasters
o The state-owned national broadcasters are not community broadcasters

Then what are they? Of Course , they are not public service broadcasters according the universal definition accepted by many people

Further, analysis can be further made in terms of
• What is with them that distinguishes from other broadcasters and identifying them as public service broadcasters ( Analysis of the existing problems)
• Where are they as a public service broadcasters? ( Analysis of present system)
• What are the consequences in future if they continue present status?
• What are the possible solutions open to them?

It is worth-mentioning here that these broadcasters cannot convert to private broadcasters as their mandate does not allow them to become because they have some public responsibilities and they existence is defined by their identities.

At the same times, it is quite clear that they cannot continue in the same state of affairs as they are now, they cannot survive as they are working in the still monopolistic paradigm..

The Best solution: Public participation in Broadcasting
• Where are they as the public broadcasters?
• Where do they stand as public broadcasters?
• What are the consequences in the future if they do not change the framework they work for ?
• What are the options left them?
• How do they convert to a true public service broadcaster?

Building a methodology for evaluating Public Broadcasting in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

To answer these questions, we need to develop a methodology to evaluate a state/national broadcaster as Public Service broadcaster. The proposed methodology is based on essential elements that constitute a true public service broadcasting systems as available some of the countries of the world and most importantly, with essential elements of public participation and universal declaration human rights.

How does one assess that a national/state broadcaster have become/converted to a public service broadcaster?

Generally identified Process to convert a national/state broadcaster to a public service broadcasters

The answer may be broadly like this if it undergoes these processes. Of course, these process are not universal.

Firstly, we wish to see is there any attempt to review the present Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasting.
Secondly, a national /state broadcaster may become a true public service broadcaster if and only if we found visible changes in legal and structural framework.

Change in the legal framework is basically changing present media law of the country based on the spirit of the constitution. Plainly speaking, is there any attempt to bring a new media law or change the existing media law for providing greater public participation in the broadcasting?
This means clearly creating legal conditions for true public service broadcasting.

Push for structural reforms

While Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and TajikistanPublic service broadcaster should be accountable to Parliament for policy and strategic decisions, the organisation would be responsible for its own operational and tactical decisions. The government of the day must have no hand in its functioning or decision-making, and must remain at arms-length

Independent financial resource or more public funded Funding and financing Mechanisms
An appropriate funding mechanism is crucial for tajikistan for achieving the mission and objectives of a Public Broadcaster. There are two major ways to fund such an organization. The first could be through license fees, public subsidies and Government grants. Alternatively, the funding could be primarily from commercial revenue such as advertising and sponsorship revenue, pay channels, sale of audio and video programmes, and programming agreements. Indeed, a broadcaster has the choice of several different methods for its financing. In U. K., BBC is funded by license fee and by the sale of its materials and services. BBC does not, in the U. K., depend on advertising, sponsorship or subscription revenues. In some other countries, like Japan and Sweden, Public Broadcasters rely almost entirely on license fee. Spain’s TVE and New Zealand's NZTV are, on the other hand, completely financed by advertising revenue. PSBs in France, Germany, Italy and Ireland combine the license fee revenue with advertising, while Australia’s ABC is entirely funded by Government grants. Canada’s CBC combines Governments grants with advertising revenue. In USA, where PBS plays a marginal role, the organization is funded by Government grants and private donations.

Recommended strategies for Future

Some Relevant Recommendations on PSB in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Public Service Broadcasters in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are encouraged to :-
a.Promote and develop education- including community education, spread of information, empowerment and people’s participation in society and development addressing all groups of society.
b.Create programs which carry credibility with pluralistic groups and which promote cultural diversity and bring positive effects of globalization to all communities.
c.Create rich and quality content for all, and in particular by and for women, youth and children that counters the influence of violence, communal hatred and carry such content on prime time.
d.Initiate public debate and common ground talks between policy-makers, academics and media professionals to counter negative effects of violence in media. Broadcasters can promote the culture of dialogue among civilizations with the view to promote understanding and peace.
e.Exploit new technologies to expand coverage and accessibility to information and healthy entertainment.
f.Promote protection of copyrights of content by coming out strongly against piracy and unauthorized use of content.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Broadcasting Authorities are encouraged to :-
a.Allow autonomy in content creation, management, finance and administration of Public Service Broadcasters.
b.Study and consider the following funding mechanism for public service broadcasting:
1).One time fee while buying a radio/ television/electronic appliances/ mobile phones;
2). Introducing a license fee; either as a stand alone or as as an addition to the electricity bill,
3).Government grants for infrastructure,
4).Advertisement/commercial revenue. But it should not undermine the mandate of public service broadcasting,
5). Sponsorship,

C. Contribute to production of programmes for clearly defined developmental needs.
d. Regularly review the mandate of Public Service Broadcasting in view of national, regional and global events in order to foster mutual understanding, tolerance and trust.
• Allocate preferential frequencies to Public Service Broadcasters,
f. Create legal structures to allow independence of decision making to the public broadcasters.
g. Ensure allocation of adequate time by private networks for public service programmes and for pluralistic content for all group of the society.
h. Ensure complete editorial independence.
• Organize more in-country conferences/ road-shows in Dushanbe and other areas to sensitize the people about the importance of Public service broadcasting in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan involving cross-section of society including politician, policy-makers, press, judiciary, legislators, students. workers, academics

The following agenda can be set for State Radio and Tv Commitee of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
to
• Redefining mission and objectives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Radio and TV
In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasting organizations, a substantial amount of the transmission must be decentralised with programmes produced locally, in the local language
Promoting accountability in broadcasting and push for structural changes
• Independent financial resource or more public funded Funding and financing Mechanisms
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Public Broadcasters should enter into strategic alliances and joint ventures and partnerships within the country and outside the country
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistanbroadcasters should reposition their channels and create identity.each channel, both on radio and TV, have a clearly defined identity and positioning; so that, each channel is t he specific choice for a type of viewer (or listener)
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasters should should Improve programming content, presentation styles and production values
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasters should market radio and television programmes
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasters should develop human resources to deal with more challenging situation
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasters shouldInitiate low and cost effective digital and internet technologies to create alternative reach and voices
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasters should made necessay change in the broadcast act

Why Public Service Broadcasting is so important for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan?

The broadcasting scenario present in the Asia-Pacific is quite myrid, competitive and market-driven. The excessive importance to market results in hyer-commercilization and sometimes dehumanization and monopolization of content with handful of multinationals. Besides, the technological proliferations and media convergence makes “weaker socitalisation of PSB”. But more positively, the audience exposed to more globalization of programming, more awareness of international happening and aspiring for a “ Globalized Audience “.In some front , we encounter the trend of localization of the global what we described as “ Glocalization”. So, it is most unlikely to assume that the desire to have PSB in Tajikistan is seen as solution to existing problems rather than the problem itself.

The Background for necessity of introducing PSB in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Some of the strongest reasons for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasters wish to change to true and editorial independent public service broadcasters may be the following:
1. There are dramatic changes in technology and transmission makes the Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan broadcasters increasing difficult to compete. The advent of hyper-commercialization and the advent of satellite and cable TV result in negation of the spirit of social and community values in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
2. Another significant trend being the convergence of television and the Internet ,the result being the monopolization of content of few handful of multinational companies. This leaves Asia-Pacific broadcasters clueless on the strategies to deal with the situation. Many times and many places the survival strategies are only mapped and there was no preparedness for future to go ahead with a plan of actions to reposition PSB and strengthen the public service broadcasting it in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Some Future Strategies
Promoting Public Service Broadcasting: Strategies
Ø Proactive Public Campaign/Advocacy for Public Service broadcasting in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Ø Popularizing the concept and idea of Public Service Broadcastingin Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Ø Sensitizing the Policy makers, politicians, academics, Press and judiciary and other cross-sections of societies about the importance of public service broadcasting in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Ø Looking PSB as solution –centric rather than problem-centric
Ø Disseminating information through publication of books and CD-ROMs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan language
Ø Developing a course on PSB and delivering through Distance education/E-learning
Ø Conducting research study on many issues relating to accountable mechanisms, minority programming, corporitization process with public.
Ø Seeking wider consulantancy and public participation on Broadcasting Bill, Regulations
Ø New ICT for Broadcasting to increase the access and participation of audience and providing journalist journalists the tools to promote alternative voices and pluralism

Harasad Prasad Padhy
31/12/2003