Portugal

[PT] New Government to Reduce Public Service Broadcasting

IRIS 2002-5:1/12

Helena Sousa

Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho

The recently elected centre-right government, led by Prime Minister Durão Barroso, has clarified its intention to cut down on public broadcasting. The Programme of the XV Constitutional Government, approved by the Portuguese Parliament on 17 April 2002, states that Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP, S.A.) will be split into two companies. The Government holds that one will remain State-owned, keeping the present broadcasting licence and public service commitments; as yet it has not put forward any plans regarding the future of the other.

Public service radio will also be restructured; of the four existing national channels, the Government intends to keep two (RDP 1 and RDP Internacional), "alienate" Antena 3 and review the operating framework for Antena 2.