What programming should public broadcasting offer? Of all the questions raised in this
paper, this is probably the one that calls for the most nuances. We cannot ask all public
broadcasters to adopt the same programming model. In television, for example, public
broadcasters with substantial resources can produce expensive drama programs that
others cannot afford. So the particular context of each public broadcaster demands that
certain types of programs be given preference over others. For example, in a vast
country inhabited by many different communities, there may be a need for more local or
regional programs—a need that may not be felt in small countries. It is clear also that a
distinction must be made between the public broadcaster’s radio and television
programs, since the resources required by production are not the same. Bearing in mind
the principles linked to the very existence of public broadcasting and the threefold
mission incumbent upon it—information, education and entertainment—this part of the
paper seeks to clarify the question of public broadcasting programming