Public service media (PSM) are confronted with a continuing debate about public remits, performance, efficiency, and the public value of its offerings, and in many countries, public service organisations are put under pressure by political initiatives that question and oppose the traditional public funding models. This paper contributes to the debate about funding models and the assessment of public service media by exploring the relationship between funding (input) and audience performance (impact). Results of a comparative analysis of 17 European countries indicate that funding of PSM affects its audience performance. Broadcasters with stronger public income achieve higher market shares, stronger relevance as an information source, and greater trust in independence from external constraints. The findings underline the sensitivities around political reforms that aim at changes of PSM funding models. On the basis of the empirical analysis, the authors argue that substantial budget cuts or the abolition of public funding will probably lead to declines in audience performance—and a loss of relevance of public service media.

中文翻译：

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欧洲的公共服务媒体：探索资金与受众群体表现之间的关系

公共服务媒体（PSM）面临着关于公共服务的职权范围，绩效，效率和公共价值的持续辩论，在许多国家，公共服务组织受到质疑和反对传统公众的政治倡议的压力。资金模型。本文通过探讨资金（投入）和受众表现（影响）之间的关系，为有关资金模型和公共服务媒体评估的辩论做出了贡献。对17个欧洲国家进行的比较分析结果表明，PSM的资助会影响其听众的表现。具有较高公共收入的广播公司将获得更高的市场份额，更强的相关性（作为信息来源）以及对不受外部限制的独立性的信任。调查结果强调了针对旨在改变PSM资助模式的政治改革的敏感性。根据经验分析，作者认为，大幅削减预算或取消公共资金可能会导致听众表现下降，并失去公共服务媒体的相关性。