Tag: Television Without Frontiers

European works are dominating the programme schedules of European television channels, with broadcasters preferring EU films and fictions to Hollywood or other extra-EU TV products, according to a report carried out by the Commission.

Parliament's culture committee has approved new rules that would allow more commercial breaks and US-style product placement in television and other audiovisual broadcasts in the EU, paving the way for their adoption by the end of the year.

The EU institutions have found agreement on amendments to the Television without Frontiers (TWF) Directive, the central piece of EU TV regulation. They propose to apply certain provisions of the Directive to some internet-based services and to partially lift regulations on advertising and product placement.

An industry alliance bringing together internet service providers, telecom operators, content providers and hardware makers attacks Commission plans to bring some online content under a regulatory scheme initially created for TV.

This study, commissioned by DG Infsoc from the Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research in Hamburg, and the Institute of European Media Law in Saarbrücken, (Germany)  aims at providing a complete picture of co-regulatory measures taken to date in the media sector in all 25 EU Member States and in three non-EU-countries, as well as of the research already done in this field.

The Commission proposes applying the provisions of the Television without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive to certain internet-based services. At the same time, regulations on advertising and product placement will be partially lifted.

A hard-hitting report by the Open Society Institute criticises dumbing down and trivialisation of TV content throughout Europe, as a result of ineffective regulation and insufficient funding of high-quality public service TV. 

Consumer advocates from Germany are criticising the Commission's Issues Paper on the TV without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive, which they say would end a ban on secretive product placement in TV productions.

In a bid to keep up with fast-evolving digital technologies, the Commission has tabled new guidelines to protect children and guarantee the right of reply in the media.

At a meeting in Ireland, EU Ministers were presented with a report by the European Audiovisual Observatory which re-opens the debate on regulating transfrontier TV. The Commission is opposed to the idea.

The Commission has published a roadmap for the updating of the TV Without Frontiers (TWF) Directive. Fresh rules on new advertising techniques and protection of minors are expected early next year.

At their meeting on 12 June, MEPs urged a complete overhaul of the "Television Without Frontiers" Directive.

An antitrust exemption by the Commission will introduce more competition for EU television and radio companies, which simultaneously broadcast music shows on the Internet.

Several European organisations urge Prague to resolve the conflict at Czech public television station.