Moving beyond the Borders of Top–Down Broadcasting: An Analysis of Younger Users’ Participation in Public Service Media

This article analyzes whether and to what extent public broadcasters have been able to transpose concepts like interaction, cocreation, and participation into actual media service delivery. The article theoretically frames this discussion, first, by defining and operationalizing interaction with, cocreation of, and participation in public service media (PSM), focusing mainly on participation, and, second, by analyzing the challenges that emerge from these concepts. Subsequently, a comparative case study analysis is conducted. Included in the analysis are three PSM multiplatform projects targeted at younger users: that is, TV Lab (France Télévisions), Carte Blanche (VRT, Flanders), and BNN University (NPO, the Netherlands). Findings are based on a qualitative document analysis and semistructured interviews with both producers of and participants in these multiplatform projects.