DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF PARLIAMENTARY TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN UKRAINE: EUROPEAN STANDARDS AND INSTITUTIONAL MODELS OF A MULTIMEDIA SERVICE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32689/2523-4625-2026-2(82)-9Keywords:
parliamentary broadcasting, “RADA” TV channel, public media, state media, editorial independence, media serviceAbstract
The article examines the reform of parliamentary television broadcasting in Ukraine in the context of European standards of freedom of expression, media independence and public service media. Particular attention is paid to the institutional and legal status of the Ukrainian parliamentary television channel “Rada”, its funding and governance arrangements, and competing approaches to defining its functions. The study analyses the Council of Europe’s 2023 legal expertise concerning proposed legislative amendments on parliamentary broadcasting in Ukraine, focusing on two different approaches: limiting parliamentary broadcasting to the transmission of the work of the Verkhovna Rada and its committees, or expanding the channel’s remit to include the production of a broad range of editorial media content. European models of parliamentary audiovisual services are examined, including arrangements operated by public service broadcasters, parliamentary institutions, or combinations of the two. The article argues for a clear distinction between parliamentary information services and editorial media. It proposes considering the reform of parliamentary broadcasting in Ukraine as part of a broader transition from a conventional television channel towards a multimedia parliamentary media service. The study identifies the main institutional prerequisites for such reform: editorial independence, transparent governance and funding, a clearly defined public function, open access to parliamentary content and adaptation to the digital media environment. The relevance of the topic regarding the transformation of Ukraine’s parliamentary broadcaster from a state-owned entity into a public service medium stems from the challenges associated with the transition of public media from state control to public service, as well as the shift from traditional analog broadcasting to digital content distribution.
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