< Back 27 Mar 2025 Findings and recommendations on the organisational and cultural challenges facing PSM in Belgium In this new policy brief Tim Raats and Cataline Iordache share results from the latest research conducted during the second year of the PSM-AP project . Their findings show that Public Service Media (PSM) organizations in Belgium, being RTBF (French-speaking) and VRT (Flemish) face growing competition from global tech giants such as Netflix, Apple, Google, and Amazon. This requires a transition into fully digital, online-first broadcasters. While both are integrating digital tools and skills, structural barriers rooted in traditional broadcasting, such as bureaucracy and departmental silos, slow down this transformation. They are adapting their commissioning and distribution strategies to better meet audience needs while maintaining their public service mission and managing brand perception. However, their digital transition differs: VRT is positioning VRT MAX as the central platform for content, whereas RTBF struggles to rebrand Auvio beyond a catch-up service, as linear TV is still dominant for reaching audiences. Their study identifies the following four key factors that shape the way in which both Belgian PSM organizations are managing the rise of internet delivery and increasing competition with international streamers: If you want to learn more about the outcomes of in-depth interviews with employees in both PSM organizations, have a look at the full policy brief here . Previous Next Policy Brief on Public Service Media in Belgium

< Back Not that personal: A qualitative study of personalization practices on six European public streaming service Münter Lassen, J., Iordache, C., Martin, D., Bruun, H., Świtkowski, F., Nucci, A., & Johnson, C. (2026). Not that personal: A qualitative study of personalization practices on six European public streaming service. Television & New Media , 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/15274764251415356 This article presents key findings from a comparative empirical study of content recommendation on the audiovisual streaming services of six European public service media (PSM) organizations. Due to growing competition with international subscription streaming services, the editorial practices of PSM are developing, combining editorial curation with algorithmic recommendations. Contributing to the fields of PSM, platformization and scheduling studies, the article presents findings from a qualitative reverse engineering approach to interface analysis. We document how the majority of the services exercise what we characterize as light personalization, and we highlight explanations for why the degree of personalization on the PSM streaming services, in most cases, is still limited. The comparative approach enables us to identify the factors most commonly at play across diverse national contexts. The article adds to theoretical debates about how personalization is constructed in a PSM context and discusses whether algorithmic personalization conflicts with PSM values. Platforms, Recommender Systems Previous Read the article Next

< Back 28 Oct 2024 Throwback on the international seminar on diversity and VOD services Tim Raats and Catalina Iordache participated in the international seminar on diversity and Video-on-Demand (VOD) services in Madrid, hosted by the Diversidad Audiovisual research group at University Carlos III Madrid. This event brought together scholars, industry experts, and policymakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities for promoting diverse content in the increasingly globalized VOD landscape. Tim Raats contributed to the discussion on quotas for European works, presenting on October 24 during a panel focused on promoting European and Spanish content. His talk examined the importance of quota regulations and content prominence to ensure visibility for European productions, underscoring how these measures can support local cultural diversity on international streaming platforms. Catalina Iordache also presented on the same day, addressing the financial impact of foreign streaming platforms on European fiction series. Speaking in a panel on investment and financing of European works, she shared insights into how international players like Netflix and Amazon Prime are contributing to and reshaping the European audiovisual ecosystem by funding local productions. The seminar recordings and a full list of panels are available on the Diversidad Audiovisual website , offering a wealth of information on the dynamics of diversity in the digital streaming era. Previous Next Diversity in VOD services: Seminar highlights from Madrid

< Back People, personalisation, prominence: A framework for analysing the PSM shift to digital portals and interrogating universality across contexts Iordache, C. et al. (2024). People, personalisation, prominence: A framework for analysing the PSM shift to digital portals and interrogating universality across contexts. International Journal of Cultural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1177/13678779241296556 In the context of enhanced platformisation, Public Service Media (PSM) are once again forced to rethink the ways in which they achieve core public values. To this end, PSM have been prioritising the development of their own video-on-demand portals. To contribute to ongoing research, we propose a theoretical framework that can be applied by future PSM work, based on the operationalisation of platformisation in PSM policy documents and strategy. We identify the shared priorities across ten media organisations in seven media markets: Belgium—Flanders and Wallonia-Brussels, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Poland, and the UK. The study is based on the qualitative analysis of 61 documents, outlining the PSM remit and how they report and present themselves to governments, collaborators, and audiences, contextualised by ongoing national and regional debates. Findings confirm that the framework of people, personalisation, and prominence can serve as a useful theoretical basis for understanding and interrogating universality across contexts. Public Service Media Previous Read the article Next

< Back Beyond rational choice: A typology of urban discovery Binst, B., Michiels, L., & Smets, A. (2026). Beyond rational choice: A typology of urban discovery. Tourism Management , 113 , 105327. As the internet, smartphones, and review platforms transform how travelers discover urban attractions, understanding this process is critical for harnessing a sustainable urban attraction space. Yet urban discovery remains poorly understood, and existing research is fragmented. To address this gap, we adapt Leiper's tourist attraction systems framework to study urban discovery. Our grounded theory analysis on 126 interviews resulted in five distinct discovery modes: instrumental-rational, go-with-the-flow, social, flaneur, and habitual. Besides richly describing these modes, we identify personal, social, contextual, demographic, and affective factors influencing them. We illustrate how playful discovery modes—go-with-the-flow, social, and flaneur—are compatible, leading to mixed discovery modes, while the remaining modes are incompatible. These findings challenge the dominance of rational choice models by revealing a broader spectrum of discovery behaviors. They also provide a foundation for designing a more inclusive urban attraction content space and offer strategic implications for urban attraction management. Previous Read the article Next

< Back FIRE: A Modular Framework for Prototyping and Evaluating Interactive Recommender Explanations Ulysse Maes, Cedric Waterschoot, Francesco Barile, and Nava Tintarev. 2026. FIRE: A Modular Framework for Prototyping and Evaluating Interactive Recommender Explanations. In Proceedings of the 34th ACM Conference on User Modeling, Adaptation and Personalization (UMAP '26). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 484–486. Explanations in recommender systems are important for enhancing transparency, trust, and system understanding. However, as research interest in interactive and chat-based explanations grows, the absence of standardized, reusable interface components limits their systematic evaluation. We introduce the Framework for Interactive Recommender Explanations (FIRE) to bridge this gap. FIRE provides an open-source library of modular explanation styles with varying levels of interactivity — spanning from static lists and draggable charts to conversational agents. To test these modalities in online user studies, FIRE integrates a supporting serverless experiment engine equipped with dynamic routing, crowdsourcing integration, and complete interaction logging. Currently configured for group recommenders but built for broader applicability, FIRE helps to standardize the evaluation of the explanation layer, thereby driving reproducible experimental design. Previous Read the article Next

< Back Public Service Media and Platformization Pieter Van der Elst PhD Researcher This part of the SRP research project aims to develop in-depth knowledge on how an increasingly algorithmized media industry compels European Public Service Media (PSM) to alter their operational and value-related strategies. During a time period of 4 years, we will scrutinize how PSM’s part in the media value chain is affected and what that means for the company, the content and the end-user. A first phase of the research focuses on the organizational side of PSM. More specifically, we concentrate on the case of Flemish public broadcaster VRT and how they are operationalizing a digital and user-first approach in their digital audio strategy. Complementary analysis of the decision-making behind this organizational shift will be key to developing a thorough understanding of what it means for a public legacy media player to adapt to the ever-changing industry it operates in. In later stages of the project, our focus will shift towards what said transition implies for PSM on the levels of content production, distribution and the societal core values imbued. This part of the research will also broaden our scope geographically by including scrutiny of other European PSM organizations and how their methods compare to one another. Examinations of audience perspectives will conclude our research journey and provide us with indispensable insights on the topic. Through this research programme we aim to consolidate our understandings on algorithm-driven media operations and media-economics and media policy oriented PSM-research, not only serve the academic community, but also to provide small market PSM-organizations with tools to better understand and integrate algorithms, and assist policymakers in developing ways of regulating and measuring the impact of algorithms on media output and audience reach. Publications Streaming Europe: How Transnational Streaming is Reshaping European Film and Television Markets Catching the waves: The case of VRT's digital-first audio strategy 02/09/2025 Challenges and requirements for implementing due prominence: aligning stakeholder interests in Flanders 18/07/2025 Towards a Pragmatic Approach for studying Normative Recommender Systems 18/09/2023 Supervisors Catalina Iordache Guest Professor Tim Raats Associate Professor Related news 2 Report Published: How to Ensure Visibility and Prominence for Media Services of General Interest in Flanders Commissioned by the Flemish Minister of Media, this research report investigates findability, discoverability, and due prominence for audiovisual and auditive media services. 2 Ciao from EMMA in Rome! Our presentations at the emma Conference 2025 2 Media Industries Conference, London An overview of our presentations at Media Industries in London Previous Next

< Back Adelaida Afilipoaie Postdoctoral Researcher adelaida.afilipoaie@vub.be I am a senior researcher in the field of media policy, with an affinity for electronic communications networks and services, and online platforms. I am part of the Brussels-based imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel research group, more specifically part of the Media Economics and Policy Unit. In 2016 I graduated from my BA. in Media Studies and Television in the United Kingdom. After gaining theoretical knowledge and hands-on production experience in the media industry, I decided to pursue a MSc. in Communication Studies at the VUB in Brussels from which I graduated in 2018. Right after graduating I started working at imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where, by combining economic platform theories and media policy research, I conducted my PhD on the regulatory frameworks at the EU and Member States level, and their ability to address the online platform power concerns, which I finalized in 2023. Currently, I am conducting postdoctoral research for several projects (Fair MusE, ALGEPI and GMICP). Considering the domination of online platforms and their algorithms, these projects tackle the various concerns of the European music ecosystem, the impact of algorithmic gatekeepers on individuals’ epistemic welfare and the media markets concentration trends. When I am not involved in research, I am a guest lecturer for the Digital Media in Europe Master’s programme at the VUB and I act as a master’s thesis supervisor. During my time as a PhD candidate, I acted as a Teaching Assistant for the MSc. course European Media Markets and facilitated several workshops part of the now discontinued Postgraduate in Media Economics programme at the VUB (2018-2020). I have experience with European projects as I was a contributor to the SMART 2018/0066 study on the implementation of the new provisions in the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and CNECT/2020/OP/0099 study on the Media Plurality and Diversity Online, both funded by the European Commission’s DG CNECT. Visit my research profile

< Back Heritiana Ranaivoson Research Professor heritiana.renaud.ranaivoson@vub.be While digital technologies have been here for quite some time already, I am still amazed by the changes they keep triggering in the cultural and media industries and how they allow (or constrain) these industries to innovate. I am particularly interested in the impact these changes have on the diversity of the content these industries produce and recommend. And eventually the policies that are needed in this new environment. I analyse these changes using my background in industrial economics, business modelling and media policy, with a peculiar interest in combining quantitative and qualitative research. I obtained my PhD in Economics (Université Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne) in 2008 on cultural diversity in the recording industry. I also studied Economics and Management at Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan (France). Since then, and notably since I joined imec-SMIT-VUB in 2010, I have led several research projects at international and national levels for the European Commission ( H2020 , study contracts ), the Unesco , Google , etc. I have published extensively in the fields of cultural and media diversity , media innovation , media policy, audiovisual platforms , and the economic impact of digital technologies on creative industries . Visit my research profile

< Back 5 Jun 2025 Our presentations at the emma Conference 2025 On the first day of the EMMA Conference, Aina, Hanne, and Pieter joined over 20 other PhD students from all over Europe for the inspiring PhD Workshop. In small groups, under the guidance of an experienced researcher, each student got the opportunity to present some issues related to their PhD track, delving into theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, data analysis, the writing process, and mental challenges such as dealing with impostor syndrome, The diversity of research themes and perspectives is of great value to our three PhD’ers as their starting the third year of their track. The workshop provided room for deepening, exchange, and building a valuable network of fellow researchers. And of course, there was also time to enjoy the sunshine, have an espresso, Aperol Spritz, and taste some Italian delicacies! 😋🇮🇹🍕 The second day of the EMMA Conference was dominated by fascinating presentations, including that of our colleague Aina , who presented her research with great flair. Aina’s ongoing research (as part of the ALGEPI project ) investigates how Europe’s AI regulatory frameworks—ranging from the EU’s AI Act and European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) to UNESCO and Council of Europe guidelines and national AI strategies in Belgium, France, and Spain—are or are not reshaping newsroom governance. The goal of this research is to explore the intersection between regulation and journalism more closely trying to understand how AI regulation translates into newsroom realities across European contexts. Through a two‐step approach of document analysis and interviews with legal experts, media managers, and practitioners, she discussed the impact of both hard and soft law in the journalistic context as well as media‐tailored AI policies that balance compliance with editorial independence. Next to Aina’s insights, it was inspiring to hear from other research themes and get some findings from other studies. After a strong day at the conference, we had a chance to explore beautiful Rome and do some sightseeing. The day ended in style with a delicious buffet full of authentic Italian dishes.🍝🍦 On day three of the EMMA Conference, it was Hanne and Pieter's turn to present their research. Together, they gave an engaging joint presentation in which they shared a comparative analysis of how decision-making around recommender systems for media distribution is shaped in commercial media companies and public broadcasters. Building upon the framework of Smets et al (2022), they investigate how the strategic perspective on integrating recommender systems differs in profit-oriented organizations and PSM. By integrating their individual case studies, they offered valuable insights into the divergent strategic goals, recommendation purposes, and the implications for the recommender system design. The take-away? There are some similar strategic goals and recommendation purposes for editorial, commercial, and technological stakeholders in both types of media organizations. Nevertheless, the interpretation of concepts such as 'relevant' and 'engagement' differs based on the organizational cultures in profit-driven and public service media. Slide of presentation: Preliminary findings on shared overarching strategic goals and recommendation purposes For those who cannot get enough of Pieter , he also gave an individual presentation afterwards in which he elaborated on his case study work on Flemish public broadcaster VRT. With a focus on the tensions and possible conflicts that arise between stakeholders in the decision-making processes that shape the recommender system development, his presentation elaborated on the stakeholders involved at PSM and the implications of (dis) alignment of their strategic interests. His VRT deep dive hinted at the merits of a stronger involvement of indirect stakeholders for public service delivery and provided learnings on how PSM could tackle future structural integrations of technological innovations, for example, that of generative AI, which was a heavily debated topic at this conference. Previous Next Ciao from EMMA in Rome!

< Back 4 Nov 2024 In a new policy brief and webinar, we present the findings of research on motivations of Flemish viewers ⇩ ENGLISH BELOW ⇩ Tijdens een webinar op 31 oktober presenteerde het Proeftuin Project nieuwe inzichten over de streaminggewoonten en voorkeuren van Vlaamse kijkers. Dit zijn de vijf belangrijkste conclusies: 1. Kijken blijft een collectieve activiteit Streaming biedt gepersonaliseerde aanbevelingen, maar kijkgedrag vertoont nog steeds sterke overeenkomsten met het traditionele, lineaire kijkpatroon. Keuzes worden vaak beïnvloed door sociale omgevingen, en samen kijken blijft een waardevolle culturele activiteit. Het ‘watercooler-effect’, waarbij populaire shows gesprekstof opleveren, blijft relevant, zowel voor internationale hits als lokale titels. 2. Lokale platformen lopen achter met personalisatie, maar voldoen aan verwachtingen Internationale platformen zijn sterk in personalisatie, terwijl Vlaamse kijkers vaak al weten wat ze willen zien op lokale platforms zoals VRT MAX en VTM GO. Hoewel deze platformen geavanceerde aanbevelingssystemen missen, slagen ze erin om te voldoen aan de vraag naar specifieke lokale content. De belangrijkste uitdaging blijft het uitbreiden van de catalogus en de gebruiksvriendelijkheid verbeteren. 3. Vlaamse kijkers waarderen lokale content Lokale platformen zijn de voorkeurskeuze voor Vlaamse kijkers die op zoek zijn naar regionale shows, terwijl grote streamingdiensten zoals Netflix over het algemeen worden geassocieerd met internationale content. Deze waardering voor lokale content geeft platformen zoals VRT MAX en Streamz de kans om zich te onderscheiden, vooral voor kijkers die regionale verhalen belangrijk vinden. 4. Streaming en bioscoop bezoek: Complementaire ervaringen Vlaamse kijkers zien streaming en bioscoopbezoek als aanvullend op elkaar. Degenen die veel streamen, gaan ook vaak naar de bioscoop, vooral vanwege de gedeelde ervaring. Hoewel de prijs voor sommigen een drempel blijft, blijft de bioscoop aantrekkelijk vanwege de unieke sociale sfeer. 5. Lokale content leeft, maar internationale content domineert Vlaamse kijkers associëren lokale platformen sterk met regionale content, maar hun kijkgedrag op grote platformen neigt naar internationale series en films. Deze voorkeur voor globaal aanbod vormt het streaminggedrag, maar lokale platformen blijven inspelen op de vraag naar binnenlandse verhalen en ervaringen. Voor een diepgaandere analyse, bekijk de volledige policybrief op de SMIT-website . ___________________________________ During a webinar on October 31, the Proeftuin Project revealed fresh insights into the habits and preferences of Flemish streaming audiences. Here are the five main takeaways: 1. Watching together remains Streaming may allow for individual recommendations, but watching habits still mirror traditional, linear viewing. Choices are often influenced by social settings, and shared viewing remains a strong cultural activity. The “watercooler effect,” where popular shows spark conversations, is still alive, with both international hits and local titles playing a role. 2. Local platforms lag in personalization but meet viewer expectations While international platforms excel at personalization, Flemish viewers often know exactly what they want to watch on local platforms like VRT MAX and VTM GO. These platforms lack sophisticated recommendation systems, yet they succeed in catering to viewers' demands for specific local content. The main challenge remains expanding their catalog while enhancing usability. 3. Flemish viewers value local content Local platforms are the preferred choice for Flemish audiences seeking regional shows, while major streaming services like Netflix are generally associated with international content. This appreciation for local content allows platforms such as VRT MAX and Streamz to distinguish themselves, particularly for viewers who prioritize regional storytelling. 4. Streaming and cinema are complementary experiences Flemish viewers see streaming and cinema as complementary. Those who stream frequently also tend to visit cinemas, mainly for the shared experience. While price remains a deterrent for some, cinemas remain attractive for their unique social environment. 5. Local content thrives, but international content dominates While Flemish audiences strongly associate local platforms with regional content, their actual viewing behavior on major platforms leans towards international series and films. This preference for global content shapes streaming behavior, yet local platforms continue to meet the demand for domestic stories and experiences. For more information the full policy brief is available on the SMIT website (Dutch only). Previous Next New policy brief: International versus local VOD

< Back Frustrations with Access to Preferred Content: User Experiences with Bilibili’s Recommender Systems Reflected on Weibo Li, D., Ranaivoson, H., & Ballon, P. (2026). Frustrations with Access to Preferred Content: User Experiences with Bilibili’s Recommender Systems Reflected on Weibo. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction , 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2026.2669039 Understanding user experiences with recommender systems (RS) on audiovisual platforms is critical for user-centric design and long-term service sustainability. However, existing research often overlooks how users articulate their experiences, particularly within specific platform contexts. This research examines 38,545 Weibo posts to identify patterns in users’ expressed experiences with the RS of Bilibili (YouTube’s Chinese counterpart). Combining natural language processing and thematic analysis, we examine sentiment trends, key concerns, and underlying patterns. While RS are generally assumed to match user preferences, we found persistently expressed user frustrations with the lack of truly relevant and favored recommendations—those that align with long-term interests, highlight quality, consider context and platform-specific preferences, and respect user feedback. These frustrations are related to the platform’s business considerations and user-platform power asymmetries. The findings underscore the platform-specific nature of user experience and contribute to discussions on adaptive RS that satisfy user needs and support sustainable business models. Recommender Systems Previous Read the article Next