Digital transformation in Public Service Media: Adaptation strategies of European broadcasters

Public Service Media (PSM) are currently undergoing a structural transformation driven by the digitalization of the media ecosystem. Audience fragmentation, the emergence of multi-platform environments and the growing centrality of digital platforms are compelling public service broadcasters to rethink their organizational models, editorial practices and content distribution strategies. This article examines how different European PSM organizations are responding to these challenges and explores how digital transition processes are contributing to the redefinition of the role of PSM in contemporary media systems. The study draws on a comparative analysis of five public service operators – British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, the United Kingdom), RTÉ (Ireland), RTBF (Belgium), Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE, Spain),and RTP (Portugal) – supported by semi-structured interviews with key institutional actors and a systematic review of strategic reports, concession contracts and regulatory documents produced between 2018 and 2025. The findings reveal that, despite national specificities, several convergent trends are emerging, including the growing importance of digital platforms, the reorganization of production structures into convergent and cross-media models, and the redefinition of public service missions in a media environment shaped by platformization and intensified informational competition. The article argues that digital transformation does not diminish the relevance of PSM; on the contrary, it reinforces their importance as critical infrastructures for trustworthy information, cultural diversity and democratic cohesion.