Press Release: Antitrust: Commission investigates restrictions affecting cross border provision of pay TV services

On 13 January 2014 the European Commission opened formal antitrust proceedings to examine certain provisions in licensing agreements between several major US film studios and the largest European pay-TV broadcasters. The Commission will in particular investigate whether these provisions prevent broadcasters from providing their services across borders, for example by refusing potential subscribers from other Member States or blocking cross-border access to their services.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/14/13: Statement on opening of investigation into Pay TV services http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-13_en.pdf

EurActiv, 14.01.14: EU competition watchdog probes pay-TV deals with US film industry http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/commission-competition-probe-us-news-532727

EUObserver, 13.01.14: EU launches probe into Hollywood film licensing http://euobserver.com/political/122703

EurActiv, 14.01.14: Almunia launches investigation on cross-border TV http://www.euractiv.com/video/almunia-launches-investigation-c-532743

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