CONSULTATION ON EU TV DIRECTIVE LAUNCHED

CONSULTATION ON EU TV DIRECTIVE LAUNCHED

London, 6 June/GNN/ --

DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT News Release (083/06) issued by The
Government News Network on 6 June 2006
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) today launched a
consultation on European Commission proposals to revise the European Union's
Television Without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive.

The three-month consultation will aim to gauge the views of UK industry,
consumers and other interested groups, to inform discussions in the European
Council and the European Parliament.

In particular the Government is keen to gather stakeholders' thoughts on the
proposal that TVWF should be extended in scope to become an 'Audio-visual
Media Services Directive.'

TVWF would then cover all media services whose principal purpose is to
provide moving images to the general public over electronic networks for
purposes of information, entertainment, or education.

It would apply to services delivered over the Internet, mobile networks,
telecoms networks, and terrestrial, cable and satellite broadcasting
networks. Currently the Directive only covers television broadcasts.

Broadcasting Minister Shaun Woodward said:
"The Government has concerns about the Commission's proposals. We've been
clear about that.

"We have already had extensive discussions with industry and other
stakeholders. But we need to know more about what they think, especially
the likely impact on new media services.

"The proposed changes could have a major impact on the development of services
that people access over the Internet and on their mobile phones. The economic
and cultural impact of the proposals will be substantial, and they could
also extend red tape where we should be cutting it.

"This consultation will enable us to take the considered views of industry
and the public back to the Commission and to our fellow Member States,
so that the final Directive takes account of what is best for the UK and
Europe in the future."

Created in 1989 and revised in 1997, the Directive's main purpose is to
ensure the free flow of television programmes and broadcasting services
throughout the European Union.

It does this by ensuring the free reception of broadcast services authorised
in Member States, which must keep to minimum content standards and to rules
on advertising, teleshopping and sponsorship.

In December 2005 the Commission published proposals to update the Directive,
in the light of major changes to the media since it was revised in 1997.

The proposed updates fall into six categories:
* Scope of future regulation - whether the Directive should also cover
services such as the internet and mobile phones.
* Jurisdiction - the rules which determine which Member State has
responsibility for any particular TV broadcaster.
* Rights to information and short extracts - whether broadcasters should
have access to short clips of events such as sporting matches for news reports.
* Promotion of European works - how best to promote production of and access
to European work in broadcasting and electronic media.
* Commercial communications - changes to advertising rules; whether product
placement should be allowed, and if so, how it should be regulated.
* Protection of minors and incitement to hatred - extending controls to
protect children and prevent incitement to hatred.

All the consultation documents can be
viewed and downloaded at the DCMS website:
www.culture.gov.uk/global/consultations/2006+current+consultations/cons_televisionwithoutfrontiers.htm

Notes to Editors
1. In July 2005 the European Commission published six "issue papers," covering
its proposed areas of focus and initial proposals for revision. These can
be viewed on the DCMS website, alongside the official response of the UK
Government, made in November 2005.
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy/reg/tvwf/modernisation/consultation_2003/contributions/index_en.htm

2. Further background to the TVWF Directive and ministerial speeches covering
the proposed changes can also be found on the DCMS website:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_dcms/eupresidency2005/broadcasting.htm

3. The Commission's proposals can be found at
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy/reg/tvwf/modernisation/proposal_2005/index_en.htm

4. A Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (PRIA) has been published alongside
the consultation documents. The PRIA considers the purpose and intended
effect of the Commission's proposals, options for revising the Directive,
costs and benefits and the competition assessment.

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6269 / 6267
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
Internet: http://www.culture.gov.uk

Source: DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

-------
Profile: intent