Ms24.09

Potential Risks and Benefits for Content Production after Merger of Latvian Public Service Media in 2025

https://doi.org/10.22364/ms24.09 | pp. 90-97 | PDF

Linda Spundiņa
University of Latvia
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8109-1060 

Abstract. The aim of the study is to investigate the possible risks and benefits of content production after the merger of Latvian public service media. The theoretical approaches of the work include the concept of public value, the concept of diversity in the media environment, the concept of media ecosystem, systems theory, organisational inertia theory and diffusion of innovations theory. The research methodology includes four research methods, two of which were used for data collection (semi-structured interview and survey) and the others for data analysis (content analysis and SWOT analysis). A total of 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with public service media content creators, media experts, reformers, and decision makers, thus eliciting what they perceived to be the risks and benefits of a merged public service media. The study also sought the views of company employees regarding the need for, and the foreseeable risks and benefits of, a media merger by analysing the results of a survey of 128 public service media employees. A total of 34 major risks and 17 major opportunities for content production after the merger were identified using a SWOT analysis. This means that potential risks are anticipated more than opportunities. Based on the data, it is concluded that several interviewees and survey participants consider that all possible risks and benefits are not sufficiently weighed up in the decision to merge the media. Furthermore, it has been found that there are different perspectives on how people at management level and content creators view potential risks and benefits.

Keywords: public service media, public service media mergers, organisational change, Latvian Radio, Latvian Television, Public Electronic Mass Media Council (SEPLP)

In: Media and Society, 2024. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Mediji un sabiedrība, 2024. Rakstu krājums. Riga, University of Latvia, 2025. 137 p.