Belgischer Rundfunk (BRF), the smallest public broadcaster in Europe, with some 70 employees, is serving the German-speaking Community in Belgium.
Media assets
Television: BRF TV
Radio: BRF1, BRF2, BRF-DLF
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)
Ownership and governance
The highest governing structure at BRF is its Board of Directors whose members are appointed by the parliament of the German-speaking community in Belgium. The obligations of the board are nailed down in a management contract concluded between the government of the German-speaking community in Belgium and the BRF.
Source of funding and budget
BRF is almost entirely funded through a state subsidy. In 2021, it operated with a budget of €7.4m, according to the station’s latest annual report. In 2022, BRF had a budget of €7.8m, 84% of it coming through an endowment from the German speaking community, according to data provided by the company. The remainder was generated by BRF through ad sales.
Editorial independence
The government doesn’t impose any editorial rules that would oblige BRF to give the government preferential treatment in its editorial coverage. BRF is known for its editorial independence. An ad hoc content analysis found BRF’s editorial coverage to be balanced, diverse, critical and objective. There is no evidence that state authorities have control over BRF’s editorial agenda.
BRF has a mission statement that guides its editorial performance and expresses the commitment of the station to “independent, critical journalism.” The broadcaster also has a set of journalistic standards that guide the station’s editorial coverage.
There is no specific mechanism of editorial assessment at BRF, yet the station has numerous mechanisms of decision-making in the editorial area in place that ensure regular evaluation of the station’s editorial performance.
August 2023