Public Broadcasting in Ukraine: How 11 years of reforms went

The Intent studio dedicated the program to the 11th anniversary of the Public Broadcasting reform, the way of transformation of TV and radio companies and media independence. They also discussed current challenges for the media - from the development of digital platforms to building audience trust.

On Tuesday, September 16, Intent.Insight studio held an interview with Svitlana Ostapa, Head of the Supervisory Board of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, dedicated to the 11th anniversary of the public broadcasting reform.

During the show, the participants discussed the history of reforms, the role of civil society organizations, the independence of editorial policy, and current challenges for the media in Ukraine. Svitlana Ostapa recalled the journalists who died in the line of duty, including Georgiy Gongadze, Pavlo Sheremet, and more than 130 media workers who have died since the beginning of the full-scale war.

The current generation knows little about these tragedies. They are often mentioned only in the media community, not in the wider society," she said.

The Head of the Supervisory Board spoke about the beginning of the reform: in 2014, the concept of reforming state-owned broadcasting companies was adopted, and by 2017, 30 state-owned companies were merged into a single joint-stock company.

As Ostapa recalled, at the time of the launch, UA:PBC employed about 7,500 people across Ukraine.

"It was a huge transformation, because we had to unite different structures, create new standards and ensure the independence of editorial policy," Ostapa explained.

"The peculiarity of UA:PBC is its independence. The chairman of the board is elected through a competitive procedure, and the Supervisory Board approves candidates without government interference. Currently, the structure includes TV and radio channels, an online platform, and UA:Freedom foreign broadcasting.

Svitlana Ostapa also emphasized the role of civil society organizations in the formation of the Supervisory Board. According to her, it is important to maintain a balance between representatives of the public and the parliament to ensure that UA:PBC remains truly independent.

The reform is still ongoing due to financial and legislative difficulties, as well as the need to simultaneously reform old structures and create new ones. The main challenges today are the development of digital platforms, preserving journalistic independence and building public trust in the media.

In early September, the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting determined the winner of the tender for the Kyiv multiplex - it was Odesa-based First City Channel. It beat the competition by presenting the concept of round-the-clock broadcasting with an emphasis on urban content.

Анна Літман