Press Release: TV without Frontiers: Commission proposes modernised rules for digital era TV and TV-like services

The European Commission on 13 December 2005 presented a proposal to update the EU’s 1989 'TV without Frontiers' Directive, to keep pace with rapid technological and market developments in Europe’s audiovisual sector. In line with the principle of better regulation, the proposal aimed to reduce the regulatory burden on Europe’s providers of TV and TV-like services and to give more flexibility for financing audiovisual content by new forms of advertising. The proposal would also create a level playing field for all companies that offer TV-like services, irrespective of the technology used to deliver them (e.g. broadcast, high-speed broadband, third generation mobiles).

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Information Society and Media: Audiovisual and Media Policies: Regulatory Framework http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy/reg/index_en.htm

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/05/475, The Commission Proposal for a Modernisation of the Television without Frontiers Directive: Frequently Asked Questions, 13.12.05 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/475&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

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