Analysis of the canary islands’ new public radio and television law

Abstract

The new Public Radio and Television Law of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (Law 13/2014, of 26 December), came into force in a delicate time for the Spanish regional public radio and television networks, which are currently been questioned on several fronts. It is also the result of the application of Spain’s 2010 General Law on Audiovisual Communication and its amendment by law 6/2012, of 1st August, on Management relaxation for regional public service TV channels. The article analyses the use of the opportunities offered by the General Law to democratise the media (an area in which minimal progress has been made), to develop a self-management model for TV programming and content, and to face the challenges of the Internet. The article concludes that the Canarian Law is a step forward in regional public service broadcasting in comparison to previous models but does not go far enough to strengthen the public service mission of its regional radio and television network in this stage of the digital revolution. In addition to examining the terms and spirit of the final legislative document, the article addresses its process of conception and the philosophy that permeates it, based on the analysis of the amendments proposed by the different parliamentary groups throughout the course of its negotiation.