The other buffer is the Media Council (Sectoral Council for the Media). This council is an independent advisory body composed of industry professionals and academics. Legally, they have no binding authority and they are not part of the contract creation process. They make non-binding recommendations to the government whether new services should be enacted, based on proposals put forth by the public service broadcasters (Donders 2010: 52). A 12-person Board of Governors oversees the public service broadcasters (VRT 2010). These individuals are appointed by the ruling government and serve for a period of five years. Their tasks include: approval.
