Financing public broadcasting to the European Competition Law

Abstract

Financing public broadcasting and their compatibility with the Europe Competition Law has been a concern for the Spanish public authorities, especially since November 15, 2001, when the European Commission published a communication on how to apply the regulations regarding government grants for public broadcasting services. On July 2, 2009, a new communication replaced it. Thus, considering the problems arisen from adapting the system to finance the Spanish Radio and Television Corporations to the new European Competition Law, various attempts were made to adapt this system to the guidelines, orientations and trends defined by the European Union, which concluded with the passing of regulations considered fundamental to the current scenario of the sector: Law 17/2006, June 5, Law of state-owned Radio and Television; Law 8/2009, August 28, Law of financing of the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation; and Law 7/2010, March 31, Law of Audiovisual Communications.