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.
Background
The 'Television without Frontiers' Directive (89/552/EEC) stems from 1989 and was last amended in 1997. Its core principle is that for TV broadcasts within the EU laws and regulations of the country where it is being produced apply everaywhere (country-of-origin principle). The main issues that the Directive tackles are:
- Programming quotas: broadcasters should, in principle, reserve a majority of airtime for EU programmes, with 10 per cent of the schedule being programmes made by independent producers.
- Advertising: there are detailed rules on the content of television advertising, e.g. concerning children, tobacco and alcohol.
- General access to major events: The public should have access free of charge to events considered of major importance to society (such as big sporting events).
Issues
As a result of a 23 May 2002 decision by the Culture and Audiovisual Affairs Council, the Directive has undergone an in-depth review. On 13 December 2005, the Commission presented its draft directive amending the Television without Frontiers Directive and re-naming it into 'Audiovisual Media Services Directive'. Disputes within the Council on advertising rules led to the Directive going into second reading. On 24 May 200, the Commisison presented a new Draft Directive, which was the result of a political agreement between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission. The draft was endorsed by the Culture, Education and Youth Council on 24 May 2007, but it still needs to be approved by the plenary of the Parliament.
The review concerns mainly the following issues:
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Audiovisual media services
The Commission included some 'TV-like' commercial services on the internet into the scope of the directive. The extension of the scope concerns mainly on-demand content such as shows, movies, serials, sports events and news reports, including the advertising therein. It does not concern video clips and animations in news and press websites, nor blogs, video podcasts, picture telephony over the internet and other non-commercial content.
The obligations for digital "pull", "on-demand" or "non-linear" services are different from those for television, the reason being, among other things, that it cannot be controlled as easily. The negative content regulation obligations are:- to identify the media service provider;
- not to incite to hatred on race, sex, religion or nationality;
- to gradually make their services accessible to people with a visual or hearing disability;
- not to transmit cinematographic works outside periods agreed with the rights holders;
- to respect protection of minors and "not to exploit the inexperience or credulity";
- to identify advertising and other forms of commercial content;
- not to use subliminal advertising;
- not encourage behaviour prejudicial to health or to safety or grossly prejudicial to the protection of the environment;
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to respect some restrictions on advertising (e.g. not to advertiseprescription-ponly medicines, cigarettes and tobacco products at all and not to advertise alcoholic beverages in programmes for minors), and;
- to respect rules on product placement and sponsoring.
The draft also encourages media service providers to develop codes of conduct regarding "inappropriate audiovisual commercial communication", in children's programming, of high-fat, -salt and sugar foods and beverages.
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New rules on advertising and product placement
As television goes digital, modern, hard-disk based video recorders are becoming more and more popular. These devices make it easy to skip through advertising breaks in recorded programmes or even to start watching the recording while the programme is still running and, by skipping advertising breaks, to finish watching it at more or less the same time that the broadcast ends.
The spread of this technology will make advertising less attractive and, as a result, cheaper. The main source of revenue for private TV stations and an important source of income also for many state-funded ones will considerably diminish.
The Commission thinks that TV stations will need alternative sources of income that cannot be as easily skipped. Product placement - the paid-for placement of goods in movies, shows and even news programmes - could be this source of income. Product placement is currently illegal in most EU member states, but is a major source of income in the US, where almost 3.5 billion dollars were spent on it in 2004.
The Commission wants to leave the choice to member states whether to authorise product placement, but the proposal says it must be subject to some obligations:- Product placement is allowed only in "cinematographic works, films and series made for audiovisual media services, sports programmes and light entertainment programmes", or in cases "where there is no payment but only provision of certain goods or services for free, such as production props and prizes, with a view to their inclusion in a programme";
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product placement must not take place in programmes for children;
- the product placement must be made clear at the beginning and the end of the broadcast concerned and when a programme resumes after an advertising break;
- it may not impede editorial independence;
- the goods may only be placed, not praised;
- some goods, like tobacco and prescription medicines, may not be placed.
On traditional advertising, current rules will remain valid, namely that there must not be more than 12 minutes of advertising per hour of broadcasting and that, in films, news programmes and children's programmes, there must not be more than one advertising block within any 35-minute period.
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Positive content regulation
Some of the 'traditional' positive content regulation, such as investment quotas for European and independent production, for television and for 'linear' internet services (services which are scheduled and delivered to the user at a time of the broadcaster’s choosing) will be retained. On-demand services must, just like classical TV, promote European works.
- General access to major events: Member states shall take measures to ensure that broadcasters "do not broadcast on an exclusive basis events which are regarded by that Member State as being of major importance for society". In particular, they "shall ensure that for the purpose of short news reports, any broadcaster established in the Community has access on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis to events of high interest to the public which are transmitted on an exclusive basis by a broadcaster under their jurisdiction."
Positions
Addressing the the Association for Commercial Television (ACT), in 27 April 2006, Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding said: "First discussions at working level with the Member States seem to indicate a reluctance of some to relax the current quantitative rules. I also currently hear calls for introducing additional rules and restrictions. I am well aware of the importance of advertising for the business model of commercial television, and I strongly believe that we should not give in to such calls. In a convergent media world with enhanced competition, commercial television and the advertising business clearly need flexibility under the regulatory framework. I therefore will continue to work on this in the legislative process."
The Parliament's rapporteur, Ruth Hieronymi, said, addressing journalists in Brussels on 29 August 2006: "The directive is by no means about regulating the internet, but about a lex specialis exclusively applicable to those services which are of particular importance for democracy and for freedom of information and opinion. The precondition is that they fulfill at the same time six criteria:
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They must be a service in terms of articles 49 and 50 of the EC treaty;
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the main purpose of which must be;
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to offer moving pictures with or without sound;
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for information, entertainment or education;
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of a general public, and;
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they must be transmitted via electronic communication networks.
In my report, I propose to add the criterium of 'editorial responsibility' and the notion of 'programme', in order to render more precisely the domain of application. Based on this definition, electronic services the main purpose of which is not the audiovisual component, such as electronic press or on-line newspapers - are clearly excluded from the scope."
BEUC, the European consumers' organisation, said the Commission had announced there would be more advertising in future and more hidden advertising in the form of product placement. BEUC Director Jim Murray said that "the Television Without Frontier proposal is an unwanted Christmas present from Commissioner Reding and her colleagues." Earlier, BEUC had argued in favour of "clear provisions on an effective complaints procedure and to ensure that the rights of consumers in their own countries are not unduly infringed by television broadcasts from other countries".
EGTA, the association of television and radio sales houses, said: "Although the Commission seems to acknowledge the need to streamline the existing regulatory framework on advertising, this proposal falls short of expectations and does not address the real challenge of the right of EU citizens to have free access to a wide variety of television programmes. EGTA Secretary General Michel Gregoire said: "Advertising is and will remain the primary source of financing for free-to-air television broadcasters. It is important to design a regulatory framework that will neither damage the present revenue stream nor hinder the development of new forms of advertising otherwise the financing of audiovisual content will be under serious threat in the years to come."
CEPI, the European federation of independent film and television producers, said the Commission had presented "a balanced view of the future needs of the audiovisual sector [...] especially concerning a more flexible and up to date approach to advertising and product placement". However, CEPI Secretary General Bruno Alves said he regretted "some lack of ambition shown by the European Commission in not calling for a more robust approach to the promotion of a competitive independent content production sector in Europe."
The European broadcasting union (EBU) welcomed "the Commission's proposal to extend the scope of the Television Without Frontiers Directive beyond traditional television to all audiovisual media services", saying "it will also enable ''non-linear' (e.g. on-demand) service providers to benefit from the country-of-origin principle, which remains the core of the Directive. This will in turn result in increased legal certainty and a better functioning of the Internal Market."
Timeline
- The Commission presented its draft for the revised TVWF Directive on 13 December 2005. The Parliament and the Council decide on it under the codecision procedure.
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Ruth Hieronymi (EPP-ED, Germany) was appointed as the rapporteur for the Culture and Education committee. She presented her
draft report
on 23 August 2006. - In first reading, the Parliament voted on the TVWF directive on 13 December 2006 in Strasbourg.
- Due to a lack of agreement on advertising rules between member states, the Directive went into second reading.
- On 24 May 2007, the Commission presented an amended
Draft Directive, which the Culture, Education and Youth Council endorsed on the same day. The Parliament also endorsed the draft via its negotiators, but its plenary still has to agree in its July 10 - 12 session. - This would pave the way for the directive's entry into force in late 2007 or early 2008.
Further Reading
EU official documents
- Commission:Legislative proposal for the revision of the "Television without Frontiers" Directive(13 November 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE] [FR] [DE] Impact assessment [FR] [DE] Impact assessment statistical annex
- DG Information Society:Modernising the TV without Frontiers directive
- Commission (Press release):TV without Frontiers: Commission proposes modernised rules for digital era TV and TV-like services(13 December 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission (Memo):The Commission Proposal for a Modernisation of the Television without Frontiers Directive: Frequently Asked Questions.(13 December 2005)
- DG Information Society:Why Europe needs to modernise its TV without Frontiers Directive(13 December 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- DG Information Society:Modern rules for TV and TV-like services(13 December 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- DG Information Society:Modern advertising rules(13 December 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- DG Information Society:Promoting cultural diversity in audiovisual media(13 December 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- DG Information Society:Why and how Europe seeks pluralism in audiovisual media(13 December 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Consolidated version of the"Television Without Frontiers"directive as amended in 1997 [FR] [FR] [DE]
Political Groups
- Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen (German Greens):Kurzstellungnahme der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Medien zur Neufassung der Richtlinie „Fernsehen ohne Grenzen“5. September 2005
International Organisations
- European Free Frade Area (EFTA): Comments on issue papers onRules Applicable to Audiovisual Content Services- Commercial Communication Commercial Communication Protection of Minors and Human Dignity and Right of Reply
- Council of Europe:Impact of the Directive Television Without Frontiers on the Circulation of Audiovisual Works in the European Union(29 May 2001)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO):Temptation-free television for children?(September 2001)
Governments
- Austria: Stellungnahme zum Themenpapier „Regeln für audiovisuelle Inhaltsdienste“:Sachliche Zuständigkeit- Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Kulturelle Vielfalt und Förderung von europäischen und unabhängigen audiovisuellen Produktionen Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Kulturelle Vielfalt und Förderung von europäischen und unabhängigen audiovisuellen Produktionen Kommerzielle Kommunikation Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Kulturelle Vielfalt und Förderung von europäischen und unabhängigen audiovisuellen Produktionen Kommerzielle Kommunikation Jugendschutz und Wahrung der Menschenwürde; Recht auf Gegendarstellung Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Kulturelle Vielfalt und Förderung von europäischen und unabhängigen audiovisuellen Produktionen Kommerzielle Kommunikation Jugendschutz und Wahrung der Menschenwürde; Recht auf Gegendarstellung Medienvielfalt
- Germany:Stellungnahme der Bundesrepublik Deutschland zur Novellierung der Fernsehrichtlinie
- Greece:Comments on the review of the TV without Frontiers Directive
- Ireland:General commentary on the review of the Television Without Frontiers Directive(5 September 2005)
- Japan:Comments on material and territorial competence
- Latvia:Submission to Issues Papers
- Lithuania:Submission to Issues Papers
- Malta:Extension of the Directive to web-casting and radio- Minimum content standards in a multi-channel, multimedia environment Minimum content standards in a multi-channel, multimedia environment Commercial Communications
- Netherlands: Response to the Issues Papers of the European Commission for the Liverpool Conference onMaterial and territorial competence- Events of major importance and the right to information Events of major importance and the right to information Cultural diversity and the promotion of European and independent audiovisual production Events of major importance and the right to information Cultural diversity and the promotion of European and independent audiovisual production Commercial communications Events of major importance and the right to information Cultural diversity and the promotion of European and independent audiovisual production Commercial communications Protection of minors, human dignity and the right of reply Events of major importance and the right to information Cultural diversity and the promotion of European and independent audiovisual production Commercial communications Protection of minors, human dignity and the right of reply Media pluralism
- Sweden: Opinions submitted to the European Commission:Material and Territorial Competence- Commercial Communications
Business & Industry
- Advertising Association: Revision of TVWF -Rules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services- Commercial Communications Commercial Communications Position Paper on the Television without Frontiers Directive
- Advertising Information Group:Rules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services(September 2005)
- Advertising Standards Authority:Rules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services- Commercial Communications
- American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU): Position Papers on Television Without FrontiersRules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services- Commercial Communications Commercial Communications Protection of Minors
- ARD and ZDF (Gertman public television chains): Statements for the Liverpool Conference on Audiovisual Politics:Regulations for Audiovisual Content Services- [DE] [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] Commercial Communications [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] Commercial Communications [DE] [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] Commercial Communications [DE] Protection of Young People and Human Dignity - Right of Reply [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] Commercial Communications [DE] Protection of Young People and Human Dignity - Right of Reply [DE] [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] Commercial Communications [DE] Protection of Young People and Human Dignity - Right of Reply [DE] Media Plurality [DE] Recht auf Information und Recht auf Kurzberichterstattung Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent audiovisual Productions [DE] Commercial Communications [DE] Protection of Young People and Human Dignity - Right of Reply [DE] Media Plurality [DE]
- Association européenne des radios (AER):Toward a modern framework for audiovisual communications(September 2005) World Federation of Advertisers:
- Association for Television On-Demand (ATVOD): Contributions to public consultation on review of TVWF:Rules Applicable to Audiovisual Content Services- Right to Information and Short Reporting Right to Information and Short Reporting Commercial Communications Right to Information and Short Reporting Commercial Communications Protection of Minors and Human Dignity, Right of Reply
- Association of European Journalists (AER)(September 2005)
- BBC:Issue paper on rules applicable to audiovisual services
- Bertelsmann:Comments on the Commission Consultation on rules applicable to audiovisual services(5 September 2005)
- Brewers of Europe:Observations on the Issues Paper re Commercial Communications
- Broadband Stakeholder Group:Proposals for Revision of Television Without Frontiers Directive5 September 2005
- Comité des Industries Cinématographiques et audiovisuelles:Diversité culturelle et promotion du cinéma européen(5 September 2005)
- EICTA:Comments on the European Commission Issues Papers concerning the future legislative framework for Audiovisual Content Services(5 September 2005)
- Eurocinéma:Consultation publique sur la révision de la directive "Télévision sans frontières"(30 August 2005)
- European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA)Response to the European Commission’s Issues Papers on the revision of the TVWF directive(September 2005)
- European Alliance of Listeners' and Viewers' Associations (Euralva):Responses to Issue Papers prior to the Audio Visual Conference
- European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA):Comment on the proposed Issue Papers on the Rules Applicable to Audiovisual Content Services and on Commercial Communications
- European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA):The Television Without Frontiers Directive
- European Coordination of Independent Producers:Cultural Diversity and the Promotion of European and Independent Audiovisual Production(September 2005)
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU):Position on Issues Papers for the Liverpool Audiovisual Conference - Rules applicable to audiovisual content(5 September 2005) [FR]
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU):Focus on broadcasting policy issues in the EU(May 2004)
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU):Review of the Television without Frontiers Directive(15 July 2003) [FR]
- European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA)Comments on the DG Information Society’s Issues Papers for the Liverpool Audiovisual Conference(September 2005)
- European Federation of Journalists (EFJ): Comments on consultation on TVWF review:Right to information, access to short reports- Television advertising, sponsorship and teleshopping Television advertising, sponsorship and teleshopping Media Pluralism
- European Film Companies Alliance (EFCA):Contribution to the public consultation on the revision of TVWF(September 2005)
- EFCA (Position paper):EC consultation on the Television Without Frontiers Directive(26 June 2003)
- Comments to the issues papers regarding the revision of the television without frontiers directiveEuropean Group of Television Advertising (EGTA):(September 2005)
- EGTA:New Forms of advertising and sponsorship - A follow-up position to the Bird & Bird/Carat Crystal study on "New advertising techniques" in view of the presentation of the EC's TVWF Directive implementation report 2002 and of the action plan 2003(13 December 2002)
- EGTA:EGTA Guidelines - Commercial communications on the new interactive services(6 September 2000)
- European Newspaper Publishers’ Association(ENPA): Responses to the Commission Issues Papers onRegulation of Audiovisual Content- Right to information and right to short reporting Right to information and right to short reporting Commercial Communications Right to information and right to short reporting Commercial Communications Protection of Minors and Human Dignity and Right of Reply Right to information and right to short reporting Commercial Communications Protection of Minors and Human Dignity and Right of Reply Media Pluralism
- European Heart Network:Observations on the Issue Paper regarding Commercial Communications(August 2005)
- ENPA:European newspaper publishers express strong concern over “Television without Frontiers” Directive revision ahead of Liverpool Conference
- EuroISPA:Response to Public Consultation On Television Without Frontiers5 September 2005
- EURO-MEI (European region of UNI-MEI, the media, entertainment and arts sector of Union Network International):comments on the European Commission’s Issue Papers for the Audiovisual Conference in Liverpool
- European Publishers Council (EPC):Proposals for a Revision of the “Television without Frontiers” Directive(2 September 2005)
- EPC:Factsheet: Television without Frontiers(April 2002)
- European Telecommunications Network Operators (ETNO):Revision of the Television without Frontiers Directive: Further roll-out of new multi-media services must not be discouraged by extension of rules(20 September 2005)
- Eurosport:Re: EC Issue paper on rights to inforamtion and short extracts(5 September 2005)
- Federation of European Film Directors:The Television without Frontiers Directive(July 2001)
- Fédération Européenne d'Editeurs de Périodiques (European Federation of Magazine Publishers) - FAEP:Material and Territorial Competence / "scope"- Commercial Communications / “advertising”
- Fédération internationale des acteurs (FIA):Rules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services- Rights to Information and Short Extracts Rights to Information and Short Extracts Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent Audiovisual Production
- Fédération internationale de Basketball (FIBA):Right to information and right to short reporting(5 September 2005)
- FIFA:Issues Paper for the audiovisual conference in Liverpool - Right to information and right to short reporting(5 September 2005)
- Fédération internationale des associations de producteurs de films:“Cultural Diversity and the Promotion of European and Independent Audiovisual Production” and “Rules applicable to Audiovisual content services”(September 2005)
- GSM Europe: Issues Papers onExtending the scope of TVWF / Technology neutrality / Definitions / Obligations applicable to linear services- Right to Information and Short Reporting Right to Information and Short Reporting Promotion of European and independent audiovisual production Right to Information and Short Reporting Promotion of European and independent audiovisual production Commercial Communications Right to Information and Short Reporting Promotion of European and independent audiovisual production Commercial Communications Protection of Minors and Human Dignity / Right of Reply
- Interactive Software Federation of Europe: Comments on the issues papers of the Commission regarding the revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive:Material and Territorial Competence- Cultural Diversity Cultural Diversity Commercial Communications Cultural Diversity Commercial Communications Protection of Minors and Human Dignity
- International Communications Round Table (ICRT):Comments on the Issue Papers by DG Information Society for the Audiovisual Conference in Liverpool(2 September 2005)
- International Communications Round Table (ICRT):ICRT comments on the Commission's work programme on the evaluation of the Television Without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive(April 2003)
- ICRT:ICRT views on a Revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive(22 October 2002)
- ICRT:Position on the future of Audiovisual Regulation(9 May 2001)
- The Independents Voice (Kern European Affairs Newsletter):Television Without Frontiers: What is at stake for Europe's film industry?(January 2002)
- Microsoft:Issues Paper for the Liverpool Audiovisual Conference on Rules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services
- Newspaper Society: Submission on Issues Papers onRules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services- Right to information and short reporting Right to information and short reporting Commercial Communications Right to information and short reporting Commercial Communications Protection of Minors and Human Dignity Right of Reply Right to information and short reporting Commercial Communications Protection of Minors and Human Dignity Right of Reply Media Pluralism
- Open Channels for Europe:Observations in response to the call from the DG Infosoc
- Reuters:Rules applicable to audiovisual contents- The Right to Information
- RTL Group: Comments on issues papers onRules applicable to audiovisual content services- Cultural diversity and the promotion of European and Independent Audiovisual production Cultural diversity and the promotion of European and Independent Audiovisual production Commercial communications
- Satellite and Cable Broadcasters Group:Response to the European Commission Issues Papers for the Liverpool Audiovisual Conference
- Voice of British Advertisers (ISBA):Q& A on the EU Television Without Frontiers Directive(May, 2002)
- WorldDAB - The Forum for Digital Audio BroadcastingNote in response to the Commission’s Issue Papers for the Liverpool Audiovisual Conference
NGOs and Think-Tanks
- European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC):“Television without Frontiers” Directive - BEUC submission on issue papers(5 September 2005)
- BEUC:BEUC's response to the Commission consultation on the revision of the TWF directive(15 July 2003)
- BEUC:Review of the TWF directive: general comments(3 October 2001)
- German National association of consumer protection centres (vzbv):EU will Schleichwerbung erlauben(20 July 2005)
- European Audiovisual Observatory:Is the audiovisual sector favorable for new forms of regulation?(Press release, 14 April 2003) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- European Audiovisual Observatory (Press release):Regulation - But How Much? European Provisions on Media Co-Regulation(27 June 2002) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- IDATE/ Uyttendaele, Gerard & Doutrelepont:Working document: Study relating to "The evaluation of the impact of measures to promote the distribution and production of television programmes in the European audiovisual sector" FR
Non-assigned links
- EurLex:Council Directive on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, COM(89)552(30 July 1997) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission (DG Information Society):Public Consultation on the Modernisation of Rules of Audiovisual Services (closed 5 September 2005) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission (DG Information Society):Issues papers on
- Rules applicable to Audiovisual Content Services [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Rights to Information and Short Extracts [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Cultural Diversity and Promotion of European and Independent Audiovisual Production [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commercial communications [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Protection of Minors and Human Dignity, Right of Reply [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Media Pluralism [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding:Better regulation for Europe’s media industry: the Commission’s approach(22 September 2005)
- Commission:Sixth Communication on the application of Articles 4 and 5 of Directive 89/552/EEC "Television without Frontiers", COM (2004) 524 final [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission (Press release):A satisfactory application of the "Television without Frontiers" Directive : television broadcasters are devoting an average 2/3 of their transmission time to European works(28 July 2004) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission (Memo):Sixth Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the application of Articles 4 and 5 of Directive 89/552/EEC "Television without Frontiers"(28 July 2004)
- Commission:Communication on the future of European regulatory audiovisual policy - COM(2003) 784 final(15 December 2003) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission:Second evaluation report on the application of Council Recommendation of 24 September 1998 concerning the protection of minors and human dignity - COM(2003)776 final(12 December 2003) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission:4th report on the application of Directive 89/552/EEC "Television without Frontiers"COM(2002)778 final [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission:Fifth Communication on the application of Articles 4 and 5 of Directive 89/552/EEC "Television without Frontiers", as amended by Directive 97/36/EC, for the period 1999-2000COM(2002) 612 [FR]
- Commission (Memo):Study on the development of new advertising techniques and their regulatory implications(7 June 2002) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission:Audiovisual Policy(Portal) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Commission:Ongoing studies related to the Television without Frontiers Directive
- Commission:Study on the provisions existing within the Member States and the EEA to implement Chapter III of the TWF directive(May 2001)
- SCADPlus:Pursuit of televisual broadcasting (television without frontiers) [FR] [FR] [DE]
- Parliament:Report by MEP Roy Perry on the application of the "Television without Frontiers" Directive(19 May 2003)
- Parliament:Call for overhaul of Television Without Frontiers Directive(13 June 2003)
- Council - Danish Delegation:The Television without Frontier Directive: Fundamental Principles and Challenges(24 June 2002)