Why Brazil failed to create its own BBC

Founded in 1922, the BBC — British Broadcasting Company — has become synonymous with pioneering and high-quality journalism. To this day, it remains one of the most prestigious media corporations in the world, despite a recent wave of budget cuts. Inspired by the British example, Brazil’s EBC (literally the Brazilian Communications Company) was created in 2007, in an attempt to create a public television station not driven by commercial standards and focused on matters of the public interest. The EBC was also seen as a possible competitor to traditional media groups, which were seen as hostile by the Workers’ Party, in government at the time.

The EBC comprises two television channels, eight radio stations, and two news agencies. It provides important content about government programs to people who depend on it, but the company’s results are mixed at best. In the last 12 years, it has consumed over BRL 6 billion in current values. Its budget is now dominated by expenses with personnel and maintenance, giving the Brazilian BBC little room for investment. Worse than that have been the constant accusations of bias toward the government du jour—a criticism that has persisted under different presidents.

That is not to say that EBC hasn’t made strides. TV Brasil, the company’s main asset, has seen its viewing figures rise by 64 percent between 2007 and 2018, according to Kantar Ibope, the company which measures TV ratings in the country. But even with that increase, TV Brasil has an underwhelming share of 0.67 percent of Brazilian homes,...