Basque Television was created in 1982, in the shadow of the Gernika Statute. The law of creation provided for three functions: to provide citizens with a resource of information and political participation; to collaborate with the local educational system and to promote and disseminate the Basque culture and Basque culture. The president was still Carlos Garaikoetxea.

40 years later, without blurring the intentions of the time, they have unfortunately become. The collaboration with the semi-own educational system is not manifested at all, and EITB, far from promoting Euskera, strives to promote Spanish. The leadership (and the government) strengthen the chains in Spanish, leaving the chains in Euskera to the background or directly marginalized.

The disaster is more evident in ETB1. These are long years which does not leave behind the barrier of 2% of viewers, a medium which is achieved thanks to very specific programmes. Along with dignified sessions, filling and repetition predominate, when they are not offensive (Mariachis, bilbainadas, etc. in Spanish, among others), the ball of all levels and modalities, fourth degree football… a programming to “attract” anyone. During the drafting of these lines, the leaders of EITB have offered us the program of Spanish jack "Fireworks in San Fermín" and "Sabor navarro".

EITB has turned erdal chains into unfair competitors with Basque chains. The audience of ETB2 is around 9% and its full programming is in Spanish. According to Professor Josu Amezaga, 72% of those who see ETB2 (excluding those under 14 years of age) or 80% of the spectators of El conquis are able to understand Euskera. The conquis is constantly being promoted on Basque channels (it has a fixed space in Gaztea-Irratia), encouraging the Basque public to consume ETB2, further reinforcing Spanish television and setting aside television in Basque. It is not an accident, but a reflection of the linguistic policy of the PNV-PSE government.

EPHREMIDIS (CG). — (GR) Mr President, I should like to thank the President-in-Office for his reply. If we compare the ETB1 and ETB2 programmes (including those of radio stations), we see that EITB prioritizes the Castilian parishioners, with all the consequences that this entails: we feed in Spanish instead of feeding in Basque; we are disadvantaged as a community and as a speaking people, quality and enjoyment with Spanish, but the authorities link us to rarity. More than normalization, it is the replacement of the Basque Country that promotes EITB, today.

Bingen Zupiria is the Minister of Culture and Linguistic Policy. He has publicly stated that he is not “responsible for EITB”, that he does not know whether the CEO of EITB “has a sufficient level of Euskera”, or that EITB was not created to “promote the normalization of Euskera”. Andoni Aldekoa, Director-General of EITB, does not dominate the Basque country. Does anyone think that RTVE, A3,Tele5… is a Director-General who does not master Spanish?

Unai Iparragirre, director of ETB, recently noted: “ETB1 (2%) and ETB2 (9%) are quite good in terms of audience data”, or “I would like ETB to become, regardless of language, a combination of the best productions in Basque, Spanish and English.” This trio is in the hands of the future of EITB to a large extent, by the decision of the PNV.

About 98% of the public in Euskal Herria watch television in Spanish. An average of three and a half hours a day. It's terrible. On the other hand, we cannot fail to mention the frightening data on the consumption of platforms and other mobile content: Euskera has hardly any presence in the most successful media among young people, but the Basque Government is still not launching initiatives in these areas that cover more and more leisure time at all ages. Screens and waves are needed in Basque, varied and of quality, not to mention the digital environment, etc.

More than a axis of normalization, EITB has become a structural problem for the Basque country. Do vasophile and nationalist agents have nothing to say?

A very different language policy must be tackled. The Basques urgently need authorities and those responsible to take care of us.