EU Media and Audiovisual Policy

Latest business news about the Audiovisual and Media policies in the European Union.

The audiovisual sector directly employs over one million people in the EU. It also plays a key social and cultural role - TV remains the foremost source of information and entertainment in Europe, with most homes having a television and the average European watching up to 4 hours a day.

Audiovisual content is also increasingly accessed through on demand services.

FACT SHEETS

General Information

• Key Priorities for the EU Media and Audiovisual Policy
• Key Audiovisual and Media Policies of the European Union: eCommunications
• Key Audiovisual and Media Policies of the European Union: i2010
• Key directives: Television without Frontiers
• Key directives: Audiovisual Media Services Directive
• Laws on the distribution of content online

Expand your business

• Tender procedures in the field of Media policy in the EU
• Funding opportunities in the field of Media Policy: the MEDIA Programme

EU Information Society and Media Contacts

LATEST NEWS

Turkish PM criticises French president — 30 January 2010, 22:27 CET

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rebuked French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday over his opposition to Turkey joining the European Union.

Protection of video game users — 12 January 2010, 19:40 CET

Strong growth in the European video game market and the development of new media has increased the risk that consumers will be exposed to illegal or harmful content. The video game industry has introduced a self-regulatory video game rating system aimed particularly at the protection of minors.

Data protection in the electronic communications sector — 07 January 2010, 17:02 CET

New technologies, and in particular the Internet and electronic messaging services, call for specific requirements to ensure that users have a right to privacy. This EU Directive contains provisions that are crucial to ensuring that users can trust the services and technologies they use for communicating electronically. The main provisions apply to spam, ensuring the user's prior consent ("opt-in"), and the installation of cookies.

Selection and authorisation of systems providing mobile satellite services — 07 January 2010, 17:02 CET

Mobile satellite services (MSS) present enormous potential at the EU level. Their deployment contributes to reducing the geographical digital divide by enabling citizens to benefit from innovations in telecommunications and broadcasting (high-speed internet, mobile television, emergency communications, etc.). This Decision aims to develop a pan-European market for mobile satellite services by introducing a unique selection procedure of economic operators at the Community level.

EU 'deeply concerned' by death of Kyrgyz journalist — 23 December 2009, 14:17 CET

Sweden, holders of the EU rotating presidency, voiced deep concern Wednesday at the death of Kyrygyz opposition journalist who fell from a window in Almaty, his hands and feet bound.

Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) — 21 December 2009, 18:03 CET

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive covers all EU audiovisual media services (including on-demand services) in the digital age. It amends and renames the Television without Frontiers Directive, providing less detailed but more flexible regulation. And it modernises TV advertising rules to better finance audiovisual content. The directive had to be transposed into national law by the 19th December 2009.

Time up for EU Member States to tune TV rules to digital age - briefing — 21 December 2009, 18:17 CET

Two years after the adoption of modernising EU TV rules removing outdated restrictions on digital TV over the internet, video on demand and mobile TV, only three countries – Belgium, Romania and Slovakia – have officially notified the European Commission of measures putting them in place, as required under EU law. The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS Directive) rebooted EU rules on traditional TV broadcasting for the digital age. EU countries had until 19 December 2009 to turn the modernised rules for Europe's audiovisual industry into national law. The Directive creates a single market for all audiovisual media services, providing legal certainty for businesses and protection for consumers.

EU vows to get tough on opening TV advertising markets — 21 December 2009, 18:19 CET

Regulators on Monday ordered a host of European Union countries that missed a deadline to implement new continent-wide digital advertising rules to shape up or face legal action.

Legal framework for mobile TV — 16 December 2009, 00:10 CET

This communication presents examples of EU Member States’ regulatory best practice for mobile TV networks and services. It covers the authorisation models for such networks and services, as well as particular issues related to the different levels of the regulatory regime.

European rights court rules to protect press sources — 16 December 2009, 12:44 CET

Five media companies won a ruling at the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday recognising the right of journalists to protect anonymous sources.

Towards a Single Market in Creative Content Online — 07 December 2009, 23:45 CET

Online content knows no bounds and is on the increase. Reaching almost 500 million consumers, content services could significantly enhance the competitiveness of the European music, film and games industry by 2010. This is why the European Commission is encouraging the development of a stronger and more consumer-friendly internal market for online creative content within the European Union.

Towards a Single Market in Creative Content Online — 03 December 2009, 16:19 CET

Online content knows no bounds and is on the increase. Reaching almost 500 million consumers, content services could significantly enhance the competitiveness of the European music, film and games industry by 2010. This is why the European Commission is encouraging the development of a stronger and more consumer-friendly internal market for online creative content within the European Union.

European Parliament LUX Prize — 25 November 2009, 13:56 CET

The objective of the LUX Prize (light) is to illuminate the public debate on European integration and to facilitate the diffusion of European films in the European Union. The LUX Prize will finance the subtitling and the kinescope recording of the winning film in the 23 official EU languages. The original language recording will be adapted for sub-titling for hard of hearing and deaf people.

Belgian press proud but concerned as PM gets EU top job — 20 November 2009, 11:13 CET

The Belgian press on Thursday unanimously hailed Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy's ascension to EU president as a national honour, but voiced concerns over its effect on the fragile domestic front.

European press laments 'dull' president choice — 20 November 2009, 10:07 CET

European newspapers were dismayed Friday by the European Union's choices for its first president and foreign policy boss, lamenting that they lacked the star power required for the high-profile jobs.

British press criticise EU appointments — 20 November 2009, 04:52 CET

Britain's newspapers attacked Friday the appointment of the European Union's first president and foreign policy chief, some calling them lightweights who could struggle on the world stage.

British press hits out at EU jobs haggling — 19 November 2009, 04:49 CET

Britain's press stepped up attacks Thursday over jostling for the European Union's new top jobs, predicting "unmemorable winners," and again poking fun at Belgian's EU presidency frontrunner.

British press takes aim at EU jobs 'farce,' Belgium — 18 November 2009, 13:32 CET

Britain's press took aim Wednesday at the European Union's haggling over its new top jobs, calling it a "chaotic" -- and reserving particular scorn for the Belgian EU presidency frontrunner.

EU regulator probes Thomson Reuters on anti-trust concerns — 10 November 2009, 12:07 CET

European Union competition regulators announced Tuesday they were investigating Canadian news and financial data firm Thomson Reuters on suspicion it had abused its dominant market position.

Missing Brit's brother to search Costa Rica 'as long as it takes' — 05 November 2009, 10:52 CET

The brother of a British journalist missing in Costa Rica for more than two weeks said on Thursday he will stay "as long as it takes" in the central American country to find him.

British journalist missing in Costa Rica — 02 November 2009, 19:27 CET

A Brussels-based British journalist is missing having been last sighted on holiday in Costa Rica almost two weeks ago, his family said Monday.

EU Digital Dividend proposals - briefing — 28 October 2009, 19:24 CET

As digital TV replaces analogue TV, four-fifths of the airwaves that used to carry TV broadcasts to our homes will be freed up. This means that they can be used for new, innovative services that use radio spectrum, from wireless internet and more advanced mobile phones to new interactive and high-definition TV channels. Remote regions could be big winners from this as wireless broadband could use the new spectrum to deliver high-speed internet to areas not yet reached by landlines. The European Commission today set out plans for a coordinated distribution of spectrum that encourages investment and competition in these potential new services. If the allocation of the newly freed airwaves – the "digital dividend" – to new services is coordinated across Europe it could give the economy a boost of €20 to €50 billion. The plan for the realisation of the digital dividend's full potential involves the European Parliament and EU countries, reflecting the major part they have to play.

British press casts doubt on Blair's EU presidency merits — 27 October 2009, 16:52 CET

Britain's newspapers are busy dissecting whether former prime minister Tony Blair would be the right man to become the first EU president, with many saying the war in Iraq had blotted his CV.

Creative Content in a European Digital Single Market: Challenges for the Future — 22 October 2009, 15:35 CET

The European Commission has published a reflection paper on the challenge of creating a European Digital Single Market for creative content like books, music, films or video games. According to Commission studies, a truly Single Market without borders for Creative Online Content could allow retail revenues of the creative content sector to quadruple if clear and consumer-friendly measures are taken by industry and public authorities. The digital availability of content thus presents great opportunities for Europe, but also a number of challenges. First of all, regulatory and territorial obstacles still stand in the way of digital distribution of cultural products and services and can impede creativity and innovation. In addition, illegal downloads on a large scale can jeopardize the development of an economically viable Single Market for digital content; there needs to be much more encouragement for legal cross-border offers. Against this background, the reflection paper – drafted jointly by the services of Commissioners Reding and McCreevy – outlines current challenges for three groups of stakeholders – rights-holders, consumers and commercial users – and invites everybody interested to participate in a broad debate about the possible European responses to them. Comments can be sent by 5 January 2010.

Score-draw gets Berlusconi off hook in Euro Parliament vote — 21 October 2009, 16:57 CET

A bid to force through tough new media ownership rules across Europe, inspired by lawmakers angry at Italian magnate Silvio Berlusconi's alleged press bullying, fell short by a single vote on Wednesday.