Tim Raats

Tim Raats is an Associate Professor in Communication Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), specializing in media policy, public service broadcasting, and digital transformation in the media landscape. His research focuses on how traditional broadcasters navigate challenges posed by streaming platforms, examining regulatory frameworks, media policy, and strategic adaptations in the platform era.

His research interests center on public service media in the digital age, with particular emphasis on video-on-demand services, platform regulation, media visibility, and the evolving relationship between public broadcasters and global streaming platforms. Raats investigates how broadcasters like VRT maintain relevance and fulfill public service mandates in competitive media markets dominated by services like Netflix and Disney+.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on media policy implementation, prominence measures for public service content, and the strategic adaptations of European broadcasters. Raats employs both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze media ecosystems, with particular attention to the Belgian and European contexts. His work shows strong engagement with current regulatory debates around due prominence and discoverability of public service media on digital platforms.

• Winner Best PhD Research Award (2011)

Raats has supervised numerous students and leads multiple research projects examining the intersection of media policy, digital platforms, and public service broadcasting. His current research portfolio includes studies on viewpoint diversity in news recommenders, European public service media strategies, and the regulatory challenges facing broadcasters in the platform ecosystem. He frequently collaborates with researchers across Europe and engages with policymakers through presentations and media appearances.

His work appears regularly in leading media studies journals, and he actively participates in academic conferences and public debates on media policy. Raats has established himself as a key researcher on media regulation and public service broadcasting in the digital age, particularly within the Belgian and European contexts.