Well, arte had only been intended for France and Germany until now. Even other founding members of the EU weren’t in scope so how should they have matched EU enlargement when the initial scope only included two countries?
In the end, nobody so far had seriously asked for a pan-European cultural TV channel until now. It seems odd to complain that arte wasn’t designed as one when no one saw a need to do so.
Well, arte had only been intended for France and Germany until now. Even other founding members of the EU weren’t in scope so how should they have matched EU enlargement when the initial scope only included two countries?
In the end, nobody so far had seriously asked for a pan-European cultural TV channel until now. It seems odd to complain that arte wasn’t designed as one when no one saw a need to do so.
It was intended as a unification tool between the 2 largest economies of the EU at a time when the EU was centered on these 2 countries.
Like every company, Arte should have focused on its mission to contribute to the European integration and expanded.
I’m not really complaining. Just saying that doing it now is opening the door for others (Slovakia, Hungary) to use it as a propaganda tool.
Not doing something until you have to (the current geopolitical turmoil) is usually too late…