Lisbon, Aug. 25, 2026 (Lusa) - Audiovisual production in 2025 «reveals a generally stable situation» in terms of the broadcasting of Portuguese-language programmes, high levels of European works and «greater challenges in meeting» the recent independent production quota, according to a report published by the Regulatory Authority for the Media (ERC) on Tuesday.
These are some of the conclusions of the report «Audiovisual Production in Television Programme Services in 2025», by the Regulatory Authority for the Media (ERC), which analyses compliance with the obligations set out in the Law on Television and On-Demand Audiovisual Services (LTSAP) regarding the protection of the Portuguese language, the promotion of European production and the encouragement of independent production.
In 2025, «the ERC's annual analysis covered 50 television programme services», states the media regulator, emphasising that «the obligations in question stipulate a minimum of 50% of programmes originally in the Portuguese language and 20% of creative works originally produced in the Portuguese language».
As for European production, «programme services must ensure that the majority of programmes are European works and, in the field of recent independent production, a minimum quota of 10%».
In on-demand audiovisual services, catalogues must include at least 30% of European works.
Thus, with regard to the broadcasting of programmes originally in Portuguese, «the analysis reveals a situation that is broadly stable compared with 2024».
Among free-to-air general-interest channels, TVI recorded 96.35% of content in Portuguese, SIC 91.68%, RTP1 89.6% and RTP2 51.27%, all of which met the applicable legal quota.
Several thematic services, «including News Now, Canal Q, Porto Canal, BTV1, Sporting TV, S+ and Azores TV, achieved 100% Portuguese-language content», the ERC said.
Theme-based services focusing on films, series and children's and youth programmes continue to show low figures, although NOS's services have shown a positive trend.
As for original creative works produced in Portuguese, «the report highlights an uneven picture», notes the ERC.
Taking into account the specific nature of the news service RTP3, now known as RTP Notícias, «it is worth noting that, for the first time, the legal threshold of 20% has been exceeded, rising from 12.2% in 2024 to 22.03% in 2025».
RTP1, RTP2, SIC and TVI remained above the legal quota, whilst Porto Canal recorded «a decline, falling into non-compliance, whilst several thematic film and series channels (TV Cine, NOS Studios, Hollywood and Cinemundo) continued to show residual quotas», according to the report.
In terms of European production, «the best performances continue to be seen on the general interest and news channels of the operators RTP, SIC and TVI, as well as on services whose programming is predominantly based on in-house or European production, such as Sporting TV, Porto Canal, BTV1, S+, Azores TV and Q».
Some channels are still working to meet the requirements, «particularly on specialised channels dedicated to films and series, and on some sports channels, whose programming relies heavily on non-European content».
In terms of recent independent production, «greater difficulties persist in meeting the minimum quota of 10%».
Last year, «29 programme services failed to reach this threshold, with a downward trend observed across several operators, particularly in thematic services dedicated to films, series, entertainment and sport».
Among on-demand audiovisual services under Portuguese jurisdiction, OPTO+, Panda+, Vodafone Videoclube, NOS Videoclube and MEO Videoclube «exceed the minimum quota of 30% for European works, whilst MEO Filmes e Séries and Videoclube Nowo remain slightly below this threshold».
In the case of recent independently produced European creative works «originally in the Portuguese language, the disparities are even more pronounced».
With regard to ensuring the prominence of European works, «operators reported the adoption of editorial highlighting mechanisms, dedicated sections, thematic categories, promotional campaigns and specific search functions».
The ERC's analysis identifies «situations in which the practices adopted remain predominantly formal or symbolic, with no objective evidence of their effectiveness in actively promoting the discovery of European and national content by users», the regulator concluded.
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