Bulgarian public broadcasters host European Media Summit in Sofia

Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television are hosting a European media summit in Sofia this week, bringing together leading public broadcasters amid growing concerns over political and financial pressure on the sector. The two-day Media Summit of the European Broadcasting Union, held on April 22–23, has drawn around 150 delegates from 47 media organisations. The forum will be opened at Sofia Tech Park by President Iliana Iotova, alongside EBU Deputy Director General Jean-Philippe De Tender and the heads of Bulgaria’s public broadcasters. 

• Public media from all over Europe gather at a forum in Sofia

Ahead of the summit, BNR Director General Milen Mitev and Robert Schwartz, executive director of Romania’s public radio, warned of increasing attempts to influence public service media through funding pressures and political appointments.

“Independent funding must be guaranteed to enable the strategic development of public service media,” Mitev said.

Discussions will focus on sustainability, digital transformation and how public broadcasters respond to global technology platforms.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova