IAMCR 2008 Conference – Media and Global Divides – Stockholm Comparing Public Policies for Digital Terrestrial Television Sweden vs Spain within the framework defined by the European Union Roberto Suárez Candel Researcher and Lecturer (PhD Candidate) Department of Communication Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Communication Policy & Technology Section

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 1 Public Policy for Digital Television in the European Union Comparative study of Sweden and Spain PhD dissertation

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 2 Paper Structure 1.Introduction: Questioning the need for Public Policy 2.The terrestrial platform as an object of public policy, even in the digital scenario 3.Implementing Digital Terrestrial Television, the need for public policy. 4.EU Policy for DTT: guidelines, coordination and subsidiarity 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue. 6.Final remarks

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 3 1.Introduction: Questioning the need for Public Policy The evolution of the role of the State within society ProviderRegulatorEnabler The peak of neoliberal ideology Power relationships between the State and the Media Internationalisation and convergence of markets Homogenization of public policy

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 4 2.The terrestrial platform as an object of public policy, even in the digital scenario Are public interest goals still attributed to terrestrial television after its digitalisation? Is that necessary?

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 4 2.The terrestrial platform as an object of public policy, even in the digital scenario Are public interest goals still attributed to terrestrial television after its digitalisation? Is that necessary? Does digitalisation transform television in such a way that public policy is not necessary to achieve those objectives?

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 5 3.Implementing Digital Terrestrial Television, the need for public policy. Public administrations were not enthusiastic about getting further involved than creating the necessary basic legal framework and controlling the granting of licenses.

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 6 3.Implementing Digital Terrestrial Television, the need for public policy. Public administrations were not enthusiastic about getting further involved than creating the necessary basic legal framework and controlling the granting of licenses. Market-led strategies and business models

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 6 3.Implementing Digital Terrestrial Television, the need for public policy. Public administrations were not enthusiastic about getting further involved than creating the necessary basic legal framework and controlling the granting of licenses. Market-led strategies and business models …that failed.

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 7 3.Implementing Digital Terrestrial Television, the need for public policy. CAUSES & OBJECTIVES of digitalisation Legitimation for Public Policy Lack of coherence in the political discourse Hidden agendas

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 8 3.Implementing Digital Terrestrial Television, the need for public policy. What were the ‘triggers’ for public intervention in order to implement DTT?

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 9 4.EU policy for DTT: guidelines, coordination and subsidiarity Polyhedral nature of television Multiplicity of policies and institutions Variety of intervention perspectives and mechanisms Diversity of policy instruments Lack of consistence, coherence and effectiveness??

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 11 4.EU policy for DTT: guidelines, coordination and subsidiarity Policy focused on infrastructures and market behaviour  interoperability, competition. Harmonisation and soft policy instruments Subsidiarity

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 12 4.EU policy for DTT: guidelines, coordination and subsidiarity Coordination of the switch-off process in order to ensure the creation of a single European market Ideological framework Certainty and guidelines

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 13 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Why Sweden and Spain?

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 13 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Galperin (2004) / Hallin & Mancini (2004) Why Sweden and Spain?

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 14 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Legitimation of DTT and public intervention Policy decission-making structures Licensing and definition of a business model Planning of the transition from analogue to digital Issues compared

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 15 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Legitimation of DTT and public intervention Similarities Objectives: competition, pluralism and diversity PSB and Universal Service Hidden agendas  maintain control over the television market Differences Public policy ethos

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 16 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Policy decision-making structures Lack of ARN Political confrontation Several political levels Media parallelism SPAINSWEDEN Distribution of responsibilities Transparency Collaboration

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 17 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Licensing and Business Model Lack of transparency Clientelism Replication of the analogue market Post-switchover already defined SPAINSWEDEN 6 licensing contests Short licenses Transparency

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 18 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Licensing and Business Model From Pay-Tv to FTA Different regional markets Uncertainty about the future: Pay-tv? SPAINSWEDEN FTA + Pay-TV (but encrypted) Competitive and attractive offer

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 19 5.Sweden and Spain, two necessarily different approaches to a common issue Planning of the transition Regional basis Focused on DTT Public and Private players Communication needs to be improved SPAINSWEDEN Regional Basis Platform neutrality Independent Authority Focus on Communication Market collaboration

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 20 6.Final remarks DTT implies a re-birth for national public policy Political tradition determines public intervention National media particularities are still relevant One international issue, several national approaches

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 21 6.Final remarks Terrestrial television still maintains its link to public interest Public policy is still necessary Industrial mechanisms to achieve social goals?

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 22 6.Final remarks Comparing national experiences allows detecting best practices, key drivers and obstacles. Adaptation to national scenarios

IAMCR Stockholm Roberto Suárez | Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain Comparing Public Policies for DTT 23 6.Final remarks Independence of policy actors Transparency Collaboration Communication Common key elements of successful migration plans

IAMCR StockholmComparing Public Policies for DTT TACK! Roberto Suárez Researcher and Lecturer (PhD Candidate) Department of Communication Pompeu Fabra University – Barcelona, Spain