The Minister of Culture, Mette Bock, and DR, the main public service broadcaster in Denmark, have signed a new public service contract, presented on 18 September.
The contract stipulates cuts in DR’s budget by 20 per cent over five years.
For DR this means major changes to its media output, distribution, and organization. Below are some of the points in the contract.
In terms of content, DR should prioritize news, content for children and young people, education, and culture – Danish-produced drama and Danish music – as well as regional broadcasts.
As for online service, DR should focus on their own Danish productions with sound, images and text. They can offer text-based news, but must refrain from long and in-depth articles.
The number of flow-TV channels is to be cut from six to three channels by 2020: DR1, DR2 and DR Ramasjang. This will be done by fusing DR2 and DRK into one (DR2), with a focus on current affairs and culture, while DR Ultra and DR3 will be referred to the digital universe only. At the same time, DRTV online is to be developed.
The number of radio channels is to be reduced from eight to five by 2020. P1, P2, P3, P4 and the digital channel P5 will continue their broadcasts, while the three digital-only channels P6 Beat, P7 Mix and P8 Jazz channels will be shut down.
DR’s savings and development plan, prepared to handle the reduced appropriations, also includes a cut of 375-400 jobs. Sports, entertainment, lifestyle and foreign fiction are the areas affected by the biggest cuts.
DR's public service contract, equivalent to a broadcasting license, follows the 2019-2023 media agreement reached by the Government (consisting of three parties: Venstre, Liberal Alliance, and Det Konservative Folkeparti) together with Dansk Folkeparti in June. The contract will enter into force on 1 January 2019, when the current 2015-2018 contract expires.
Eva Harrie