Mission and principles

The Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals - 3Cat was founded on May 30, 1983 after legislation creating the entity was unanimously passed by the political parties in the Catalan Parliament. It was one of the first laws to be passed by the new Parliament.

The high standards demanded of 3Cat are apparent in the criteria adopted in performing its public service mission, and in the principles that inspire its programming (set out in the 3Cat Act).

Finally, the Stylebook approved by the Governing Council on 28 July 2010 compiles the guidelines for the production and dissemination of content by the audiovisual media of the Government of Catalonia, as well as the values and principles of public service, commitment to Catalonia, quality of content, and transparency and efficiency in the management.

Public service mission and functions

In compliance with Parliamentary mandate, 3Cat's mission is to offer all the citizens of Catalonia quality and efficient public service broadcasting, committed to ethical and democratic principles while promoting the Catalan language and culture. Efficiency will be foremost in the management of this production and broadcasting service, while striving for maximum public acceptance.

One of 3Cat's main objectives is to help consolidate and expand the use of the Catalan language, culture and identity, and disseminate knowledge of Catalan culture abroad, while reflecting the diversity of contemporary society.

3Cat must work to reinforce the presence of Catalan audiovisual media throughout all Catalan-speaking territories. It must foster development in social and economic fields and work closely with the educational system. It must promote the development of the Catalan audiovisual industry and of audiovisual productions in Catalan. It must also provide an impetus for content employing new technologies and kinds of public communication such as Digital Radio, DTT, Internet, and mobile telephones.

All of these functions must be performed while being a reference for quality and innovation.

General programming principles

1. The inspiring principles and the lines of action of the public service programming of the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals - 3Cat, in addition to what is laid down by the legislation applicable in matters of audiovisual communication, are those laid down by the framework mandate and the programme contract.
2. The public service programming of the channels of the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals - 3Cat must be plural, in order to try to satisfy the needs of the whole population. All channels and services considered to be of public service are of free access.
3. The institutional language in which to provide the public service of audiovisual communication of the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals - 3Cat is Catalan.