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Key broadcasting issues under the UK Presidency
On 14 November 2005, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, chaired a discussion among the Audiovisual and Culture Council of Ministers in Brussels, regarding plans for the switchover to digital television. The aim of the discussion was to share experiences and exchange good practice. All Member States agreed that it was a big challenge, but one that is achievable. Many stressed the added value of digital television especially for minority groups and strengthening cultural diversity.
The major broadcasting issue under the UK Presidency will be the revision of the "Television Without Frontiers" Directive (TVWF).
As part of the UK Presidency, the DCMS and the European Commission hosted a major European conference on the Directive, which took place in Liverpool, 20-22 September 2005. You can read transcripts of speeches from the conference including the closing speech by James Purnell.
The TVWF Directive is the main EU legislative instrument on broadcasting, and sets minimum standards on areas such as advertising and the protection of minors.
It is a Single Market Directive, enabling the free movement of television services across frontiers within the EU. The Directive was originally negotiated in 1989 and was revised once before in 1997. More information on the directive can be found at the EU website, Europa.
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The UK is playing an active role in the discussions on the revision of the Directive. We have been and are continuing to consult all the relevant stakeholders and we will be encouraging the European Commission to carry out an impact assessment on its proposals.
Many of the key issues involved in the revision of the Directive are concerned with responding to the challenges of technological change. Key questions include:
- Should the scope of the revised Directive be extended to web casting and radio?
- Should there be more flexibility in the advertising restrictions? (For example, to allow "product placement", or to compensate for the new technical ways of avoiding ads such as Personal Video Recorders)
- How we can ensure that audiences can continue to benefit from minimum content standards in a multi-channel, multimedia environment? (For example, by promoting media literacy and common labeling systems)
Another important issue in the revision of the Directive is the "country of origin" principle, which determines which Member State has jurisdiction.
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Six issues papers published on the Europa website summarise the various inputs concerning the future legislative framework for audiovisual content services. They are subject to public consultation during summer 2005, prior to the European Broadcasting Conference in Liverpool in September.
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The conference aimed to facilitate expert discussion of the revision of the TVWF Directive.
It involved experts from all Member States of the EU, coming from the broadcasting industry, from the regulators, and from Government, and sought to assist the European Commission in developing its proposals for the revision of the Directive, which are expected in a White Paper later in 2005.
Industry panel: "New and evolving business models"
Workshops, group 1
- Shape of future regulation for audio-visual services
- Rights to information
- Cultural diversity
Workshops, group 2
- Advertising
- Media pluralism and democracy
- Protection of minors and human dignity
Reports of the working groups
11.30 - Closing session: High level panel
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Conference report
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