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

• Funding opportunities in the field of Media Policy: the MEDIA Programme

EU Information Society and Media Contacts

LATEST NEWS

EU voices 'grave concerns' over Hungarian media laws — 09 February 2012, 17:05 CET

The Commission voiced "grave concerns" over Hungary's controversial media laws Thursday, warning the threat of big fines for breaking the rules can lead to self-censorship.

Hungary opposition radio gets 60-day stay of execution — 08 February 2012, 17:29 CET

Hungary's sole nationwide opposition station Klubradio, which recently lost its licence, on Wednesday said it had been granted a 60-day extension pending a court review.

Lagardere unveils EUR 900m write-down — 07 February 2012, 12:22 CET

French media group Lagardere said on Tuesday it would cut the value of its assets by about 900 million euros ($1.18 billion) to account for the poor performance of sports and pay TV operations.

Hungary says did not 'give in' to EU — 26 January 2012, 21:39 CET

Hungary's top government spokesman was defiant Thursday in the face of legal action by the European Union, insisting Budapest had not given in to EU demands.

EU experts rebuke Hungary, France, Italy over media rules — 25 January 2012, 21:07 CET

A high-level panel of experts reviewing the state of press freedom in Europe voiced concerns Wednesday over Hungary's controversial media laws, but also took Italy and France to task.

Hungary's opposition radio station fights on as end nears — 19 January 2012, 22:04 CET

Although it will likely be taken off the air come March 1, Hungary's sole nationwide opposition station Klubradio is fighting to the end.

EU voices new concerns over Hungary media law — 18 January 2012, 13:07 CET

The European Commission has written to Hungary to express new concerns about press freedom and pluralism in the EU member country, warning that Brussels would remain vigilant.

EU to decide action on Hungary laws in 'days or weeks' — 04 January 2012, 18:07 CET

The EU executive will decide in "days or weeks" whether to legally challenge Hungary's controversial constitutional reforms if they breach EU laws and treaties, an EU spokesman said Wednesday.

EU to decide in 'days or weeks' on action on Hungary laws — 04 January 2012, 16:25 CET

The EU executive will decide in "days or weeks" whether to legally challenge Hungary's controversial constitutional reforms if they breach EU laws and treaties, an EU spokesman said Wednesday.

EU reiterates 'concern' over Hungary's controversial reforms — 04 January 2012, 15:38 CET

The European Commission Wednesday reiterated its continuing "concern" over Hungary's controversial constitutional reforms and warned of legal action should the new laws not comply with EU treaties.

Little impact from Danish EU presidency: media — 01 January 2012, 12:44 CET

Non-euro country Denmark, which discretely took over the European Union's rotating presidency on Sunday, will have little power to resolve the crisis ravaging the continent, Danish media said.

EU concerned over Swedish journalists' sentence in Ethiopia — 27 December 2011, 19:56 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton voiced "serious concern" on Tuesday over the 11-year jail sentence against two Swedish journalists in Ethiopia.

Hungary's central bank: a chink in Orban's armour — 18 December 2011, 04:32 CET

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is so secure domestically that he can ignore the current storm of foreign criticism, but moves to increase control over the central bank could be his Achilles heel.

British media unite against 'outrageous' French calls — 16 December 2011, 12:42 CET

Calls by France's central bank chief and prime minister to have Britain's credit rating downgraded were Friday branded as "outrageous" and "ignorant" by an angry British press.

EU probes Thomson Reuters competition commitments — 14 December 2011, 23:40 CET

The European Commission is launching consultations to see if commitments by global news agency Thomson Reuters are enough to remedy concerns over its dominant market position.

British eurosceptic press jubilant at EU treaty veto — 10 December 2011, 12:22 CET

Britain's eurosceptic press on Saturday hailed David Cameron's decision to veto a new EU treaty to tackle the eurozone debt crisis, although a few commentators warned London was now dangerously isolated.

British press fears French plot to make Cameron EU fall guy — 09 December 2011, 09:05 CET

Britain's newspapers said Prime Minister David Cameron was in a tight spot at the EU summit on Friday, with some saying he was being set up as the fall guy and pointing the finger at France.

Syria's Al-Watan daily hit by EU sanctions — 02 December 2011, 15:51 CET

Al-Watan, Syria's only privately-owned political daily, was added to a European Union sanctions blacklist on Friday for its alleged role in a state crackdown on dissent.

Arrested journalists raise concerns: EU official — 25 November 2011, 15:53 CET

The head of the European Parliament criticized Turkey on Friday about press freedom, saying the number of imprisoned journalists in the country raises concerns.

Europe deal did not address cause of crisis: China paper — 28 October 2011, 06:02 CET

A landmark European deal aimed at stemming a mounting debt crisis eased market concerns but did not address the root cause of the problem, a commentary in an influential Chinese newspaper said Friday.

EU deal gets sceptical reception from British press — 28 October 2011, 11:41 CET

The deal reached at the eurozone leaders' summit is merely a "sticking plaster" solution which leaves Prime Minister David Cameron facing "significant" problems, Britain's press said Friday.

OSCE slams rise in violence against Bulgarian media — 14 October 2011, 17:12 CET

The OSCE global security watchdog denounced Friday an explosion that targeted a Bulgarian journalist critical of the government, urging a rapid investigation of the attack.

Bulgaria blast targets journalist during EU leader visit — 13 October 2011, 23:22 CET

An explosion targeted a Bulgarian journalist critical of the government late Thursday as European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso visited the country, local media reported.

Ukraine 'becoming like Belarus' after ex-PM jailing: press — 12 October 2011, 11:35 CET

Ukraine is showing parallels to the authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus after a court jailed its former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko for seven years, the press said Wednesday.

Football: European Court issues ground-breaking TV ruling — 05 October 2011, 12:27 CET

Highly lucrative sports broadcasting deals face a shake-up after the European Court of Justice rules in favour of a British pub circumventing a monopoly on showing Premier League football on TV.