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Regulation News

Media Pluralism Monitor 2020: measuring the impact of the digital environment
posted on 28 July, 2020   (public)
New indicators highlight the challenging impact of online platforms on media pluralism On 23 July 2020, the Centre for Media Pluralism and Freedom has released the third version of its Media Pluralism Monitor, an EU-funded project initiated in 2013. Based on the analysis on...
EAO mapping report on the nationality of audiovisual works
posted on 22 July, 2020   (public)
Report highlights the need for a pan-European database and improved cooperation between NRAs and film agencies In July 2020, the European Audiovisual Observatory  (EAO) published a mapping report of the legal frameworks and current practices in the European Union to...
Ofcom´s new Online Nation report 2020: a picture of online consumption and online industry in the UK
posted on 13 July, 2020   (public)
The Covid-19 crisis has emphasised the shift to digital services while undermining online advertising revenues and highlighting a generation gap Published on 24 June 2020, this yearly online nation report, released for the first time in 2019, aims at better understanding ...
Online gambling advertising and self-regulation: a pan-European Code of conduct
posted on 10 July, 2020   (public)
A self-regulatory code to promote responsible online gambling advertising with a particular focus on minors and social media   On 28 April 2020, the European Gaming and Betting Association, EGBA, has published the first pan-European Code of Conduct on responsible...
Online hate in France - the ‘Avia Law’: the end of an intensive legislative saga
posted on 08 July, 2020   (public)
The risk raised by online harm cannot justify disproportionate restrictions of the freedom of expression In recent months, there have been intensive debates in France around the draft Law aimed at fighting online hate content - better known as the ‘Avia...
AVMSD: Long-awaited EU Commission guidelines published at last
posted on 08 July, 2020   (public)
Shedding light on key concepts relating to European works and video-sharing platform services On 2 July 2020, the European Commission published guidelines related to European works and video-sharing platforms. The publication of these guidelines, which had been eargerly...
A new Chairperson for the Spanish National Authority for Markets and Competition
posted on 01 July, 2020   (public)
Cani Fernández, new Chairwoman at CNMC Ms Cani Fernández Vicién has been appointed as the new Chairwoman of the CNMC from 17 June onwards.  A lawyer and expert in European Union Competition Law, she used to advise companies,...
Key findings from the Reuters Digital News Report 2020
posted on 22 June, 2020   (public)
Impact of Covid-19 crisis on news: serious economic threats but also opportunities to reinvent relationship with audience The latest edition of the Reuters Digital News Report, which was published on 16 June 2020, is based on surveys completed in January...
Bernard Maissen appointed as new Director of the Swiss OFCOM
posted on 02 June, 2020   (public)
Currently Deputy Director and Head of the Media Division of OFCOM, he will take up his position as Director of the authority as of 1st July A trained journalist with background in management, Bernard Maissen has worked for several media providers and was the editor in...
OFCOM (CH): new comic strip stories to encourage a safe use of digital technologies
posted on 15 May, 2020   (public)
Raising  awareness about online harms through comics Building on the successful series of stories published in 2010 and 2015 as part of a national prevention campaign to highlight the dangers of digital life, the Swiss regulator OFCOM has released 12 new comic strips...
Assessing the Code of Practice on Disinformation: ERGA’s Recommendations
posted on 12 May, 2020   (public)
  Greater transparency, stronger commitments and a harmonised framework for a truly co-regulatory approach  The European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) has been requested to assist the European Commission in assessing the effectiveness of the...
Children's rights in a digital environment: French DPA opens public consultation (update - 3 June 2020)
posted on 23 April, 2020   (public)
  Protecting minors' data while respecting their rights: the CNIL is looking for feedback As part of a global reflection on online children’s rights, the CNIL, the French Data Protection Authority (DPA) is running a public consultation from 21 May to 1 June...
Misinformation and responsible screen use during the COVID-19 crisis: Catalan CAC launches awareness campaign
posted on 22 April, 2020   (public)
How to encourage a responsible use of media in times of lockdown? An initiative from the Catalan audiovisual authority Most of European countries are experiencing lockdown restrictions, increasing the exposure of citizens to media and also to misinformation. In response, as...
Ofcom publishes research on audience expectations in a digital world
posted on 15 April, 2020   (public)
While people feel more responsible for choosing what they watch, they  expect regulation to focus on harmful content and the protection of minors This qualitative study, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of UK regulator Ofcom, aims to understand how audience expectations...
Covid-19: overview of key initiatives at European level
posted on 14 April, 2020   (public)
Mapping of key developments, reminding about fundamental rights… As crisis threatens to jeopardize media sustainability, European institutions highlight vital role of media (News item updated on 12 May 2020 with information on ERGA) In times of crises, the media are...
Covid-19 crisis: AAAVMS (MK) grants financial aid to broadcasters to cope
posted on 08 April, 2020   (public)
Financial help from the regulator to ensure the primary role and obligations of broadcasters towards the public in times of crisis Bearing in mind the negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on all areas, here also including the audiovisual industry, the Agency for Audio...
Key take-aways of CoE study on Supporting Quality Journalism through Media and Information Literacy
posted on 07 April, 2020   (public)
Mapping of 68 MIL initiatives reveals  mismatch between projects and needs On 23 March 2020, the Council of Europe published a study on 'Supporting quality journalism through media and information literacy' authored by media literacy experts Martina Chapman and...
French CSA reports on online sports market and consumption
posted on 02 April, 2020   (public)
While the online sport offer does not yet jeopardize traditional TV broadcasters, the current environment provides a fertile ground for expansion On 31 March 2020, the CSA and the HADOPI (the Haute Autorité pour la Diffusion des Œuvres et la Protection des droits...
‘Think positive’: the initiative of the Belgian CSA in times of lockdown
posted on 30 March, 2020   (public)
Emphasising the best initiatives of the media and cultural industry to brighten up citizens’ daily life Since 18 March 2020, Belgium, like many other European countries, experiences lockdown, a situation which might generate anxiety, stress and create difficulties...
COVID-19 Crisis and PSM: EBU-MIS publishes overview of audience performance and best practices
posted on 25 March, 2020   (public)
The more dramatic the crisis becomes, the more citizens turn to PSM On 23 March 2020, the Media Intelligence Service, the research branch of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), published an overview of the impact of coronavirus COVID-19 disease on the audience of Public...
AI-driven tools in the media: Council of Europe issues background paper ahead of ministerial conference
posted on 20 March, 2020   (public)
'The goal should be to use the affordance of new technologies to create optimal conditions for […] freedom of expression to flourish'. On 3 March 2020, the Council of Europe published a background paper ahead of the Ministerial Conference 'Artificial...
Covid-19: EBU facilitates PSM Taskforce to exchange and check information
posted on 16 March, 2020   (public)
Sharing information to serve European audiences better At the initiative of France Télévisions, the French public  broadcaster, and facilitated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an e-mail group gathering about 20 news desks of major PSBs in Europe,...
Fighting against information disorder: French CSA unveils monitoring work plan
posted on 16 March, 2020   (public)
A Project Team, an Expert Committee and requesting data from online platforms: this is how the French CSA is dealing with its new tasks regarding information disorder on online platforms The Law on the fight against information disorder (LOI n° 2018-1202 du 22...
Artificial Intelligence: Summary of Observatory workshop on AI in the audiovisual industry
posted on 10 March, 2020   (public)
On 17 December 2019, the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) held a workshop on Artificial Intelligence in the audiovisual industry, aiming at discussing the opportunities and challenges raised in this sector and especially in the journalistic and film fields. A...
Small Screen: Big Debate – Ofcom’s review of PSB for a sustainable future
posted on 09 March, 2020   (public)
A new and interactive approach in order to initiate an open and wide-ranging debate on the future of public service broadcasting in the UK On 27 February 2020, UK regulator Ofcom published a review of the public service broadcasting* (PSB) over a five-year period...
Hate speech online: Belgian CSA calls for new legal duties concerning social networks and online platforms
posted on 05 March, 2020   (public)
Guidance note recommends extended scope of competence and increased accountability of online platforms and social networks Building on the trend observed in several European countries, such as Germany and France, the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel de...
Due Impartiality: UK Regulator fines Baltic Media Alliance Limited £20,000
posted on 25 February, 2020   (public)
According to Ofcom, NTV Mir Baltic failed to remain duly impartial, resulting in serious and repeated breaches of the Broadcasting Code On 17 February 2020, Ofcom published its sanctions decision imposed on Baltic Media Alliance Limited in relation to material...
Finland: a new national media education policy
posted on 20 February, 2020   (public)
A comprehensive, high-quality and systematic media education, targeting all groups of people: this is the objective of the Finnish national media education policy, published on 16 December 2019 This new policy updates extends the media literacy guidelines published in...
Media Literacy: High-level expert conference in Zagreb (Croatia)
posted on 19 February, 2020   (public)
High-level expert conference "Media literacy in an ever-changing world: Integrate. Gather. Empower." to be held in Zagreb  from 31 March to 1 April 2020 The conference will be jointly organised by the European Commission, the Croatian Ministry of Culture...
Ofcom (UK): Dame Melanie Dawes appointed as Chief Executive
posted on 13 February, 2020   (public)
The appointment of Melanie Dawes by the Board of Ofcom has been approved by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport As from early March 2020, Melanie Dawes will be the new Chief Executive of Ofcom, succeeding Sharon White and Jonathan Oxley (the current...

Archived Regulation News

Ofcom publishes its 11th Communications Market Report
posted on 26 August, 2014   (public)
Ofcom publishes its 11th Communications Market Report Ofcom’s 11th Communications Market Report into the UK’s TV, radio, broadband, telecoms and postal industries, published on 7 August 2014, reveals that a 'millennium generation' of 14 and 15 year olds...
Ofcom fines Discovery Channel £100,000
posted on 16 July, 2014   (public)
Ofcom fines Discovery channel £100,000 On 16 July, Ofcom has fined Discovery Communications Europe Ltd £100,000 for broadcasting unsuitable and violent material on TV before the watershed. Under Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, all licensees must protect...
Over 3,000 on-demand audiovisual media services now on offer in the EU
posted on 16 July, 2014   (public)
Over 3,000 on-demand audiovisual media services now on offer in the EU A new report edited by the European Audiovisual Observatory on On-Demand Audiovisual Markets in the European Union has been published on 10 July by the DG Connect of the European Commission. The report,...
Council of Europe regional seminar adopts key indicators on Independence of NRAs
posted on 30 June, 2014   (public)
Conclusions from the Council of Europe Regional Meeting “Defining specific indicators for establishing and monitoring the transparency, responsibility and operational efficiency of media regulatory bodies”, which was held on 4 June 2014 in , Budva, Montenegro,...
Andalusian regulatory authority announces awards promoting media literacy at schools
posted on 19 June, 2014   (public)
Andalusian regulatory authority announces awards promoting media literacy at schools The Audiovisual Council of Andalusia (CAA) announced, on 6 June 2014, the first edition of the Audiovisual Andalusian Award aiming at promoting media literacy at schools in the year...
Access Rules: Irish BAI opens consultation on Rules for 2014-2018
posted on 16 June, 2014   (public)
Irish BAI proposes changes to Rules on Television Subtitling, Sign Language & Audio Description The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) launched on 26 May 2014 a public consultation on proposed changes to the Rules governing the levels of subtitling, sign language...
French CSA study on viewing figures for television fiction in major European countries
posted on 06 June, 2014   (public)
French CSA analysis on audience figures for TV fiction in major European countries in 2013 On 2 June 2014, the French Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) published an analysis summarising the viewing figures for fiction television programmes in major...
French CSA Report on the representation of diversity in television and radio broadcast content
posted on 05 June, 2014   (public)
French CSA Report on the representation of diversity in television and radio broadcast content On 23 May 2014, the French Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) published its Report on the representation of diversity in the French society in television and...
Sound & Vision II Scheme: Irish BAI unveils successful projects
posted on 22 May, 2014   (public)
Sound & Vision II Scheme: Irish BAI unveils successful projects The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) announced on 20 May 2014 the list of projects funded from the Sound & Vision II Scheme. A funding total of €5.136 million has been allocated to 29 TV...
Access services: Ofcom’s first report on the quality of live TV subtitles
posted on 12 May, 2014   (public)
Access services: Ofcom’s first report on the quality of live TV subtitles On 30 April 2014, Ofcom published its first report relating to the quality of live TV subtitles provided by broadcasters in the UK. Subtitles are used by over a million people with hearing...
New Edition of Ofcom's Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report
posted on 07 May, 2014   (public)
New Edition of Ofcom's Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report Ofcom has published, on 29 April 2014, its Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report 2014, which provides detailed information concerning media use, attitudes and understanding among adults (aged 16...
Green Paper on Convergence: European Parliament highlights key policy guidelines
posted on 25 April, 2014   (public)
Green Paper on Convergence: European Parliament highlights key policy guidelines On 12 March 2014, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on “Preparing for a fully Convergent audiovisual World” as a response to the eponym Green Paper on Convergence...
Latvian regulator issues temporary ban to Russian TV channel Rossiya RTR
posted on 10 April, 2014   (public)
Latvian regulator issues temporary ban to Russian TV channel Rossiya RTR On 3 April 2014 the National Electronic Mass Media Council of Latvia decided to restrict the rebroadcasting of television channel Rossiya RTR on the territory of Latvia for a period of three months...
CoE Regional Conference looks at Indicators for Independence of Regulatory Bodies
posted on 08 April, 2014   (public)
Council of Europe Regional Conference looks at Indicators for the Independence of Regulatory Bodies The Council of Europe under the Project “Promoting freedom of expression and information and freedom of the media in South-East Europe (SEE)” organised a regional...
Inaugural Meeting of the ERGA
posted on 12 March, 2014   (public)
Inaugural Meeting of the ERGA  (Article updated on 20 March with a link to the ERGA Rules of Procedures) The inaugural meeting of the Group of European Regulators for audiovisual media services (ERGA) took place on 4 March  2014 at the European Commission's...
When law meets practice: EBU study on the legal regime of Article 10 ECHR and public service media
posted on 25 February, 2014   (public)
When law meets practice: EBU study on the legal regime of Article 10 ECHR and Public Service Media The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has recently entrusted a study concerning public service media under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to...
Advertising for e-cigarettes: waiting for a legal framework
posted on 12 February, 2014   (public)
Advertising for e-cigarettes: France is waiting for a legal framework The French audiovisual regulator (“Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel”) was recently faced with advertising spots or product placement for electronic cigarettes. Not being in a...
New EU group of regulators of Audiovisual Media Services established
posted on 11 February, 2014   (public)
New EU group of regulators of Audiovisual Media Services established On 3 February 2014, the European Commission adopted a formal Decision establishing a group of national regulators in the broadcasting area: “the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media...
Accessibility: ERC defines TV broadcast obligations vis-à-vis viewers with special needs
posted on 05 February, 2014   (public)
ERC defines television broadcast obligations vis-à-vis viewers with special needs - Multi-year plan approved The Regulatory Board of ERC, the Portuguese Media Regulatory Authority, approved on 2 January 2014 the multi-year plan of obligations to allow television...
French CSA report warns about extremely unequal representation of female sport in the media
posted on 04 February, 2014   (public)
French CSA report warns about extremely unequal representation of female sport in the audiovisual media A recent report of the French audiovisual regulator (“Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel”), which was published on 31 January 2014, warns about...
Ofcom reports on strategies of parental protection for children online
posted on 27 January, 2014   (public)
Ofcom reports on strategies of parental protection for children online On 15 January 2014, Ofcom, the converged regulator in the UK, published a report on the safety of children on the Internet which takes stock of the current situation regarding children’s use of the...
eur§reg 2014 in Zurich
posted on 27 January, 2014   (public)
eur§reg 2014 in Zurich The internet enriches media markets with new players and business models. The audiovisual world has also gone global. What are the implications? Are we headed for a limitless audiovisual market? Are barriers to free trade needed to preserve social...
Belgian CSA reports on audiovisual sector
posted on 24 January, 2014   (public)
On 11 January, the CSA of the French Community of Belgium published a report on "new media" (web TV, web radio, VOD, SVOD, catch-up TV and radio, etc). The 72 pages document provides a snapshot of the sector of new media by looking at the consumption of new...
On-demand services: French CSA advocates simpler and more flexible rules
posted on 23 January, 2014   (public)
On-demand services: French CSA advocates simpler and more flexible rules On 23 December 2013, the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA), the French regulatory authority in charge of broadcasting regulation, published a report on the first year of application of...
Reform of the independence of the public audiovisual sector - Reinforced powers for the French CSA
posted on 15 January, 2014   (public)
Reform of the independence of the public audiovisual sector -  Reinforced powers for the French CSA On 31 October 2013, the French National Assembly adopted the new legislation on the independence of the public audiovisual sector. The main purpose of these...
Ofcom publishes International Communications Market Report 2013
posted on 13 January, 2014   (public)
Ofcom publishes International Communications Market Report 2013 On 12 December 2013, Ofcom, the converged regulator in the UK, published its eighth International Communications Market Report. The report examines the availability, take-up, price and use of TV, radio,...
Prospects for commercial DTT in Ireland - BAI review published
posted on 09 January, 2014   (public)
Prospects for commercial DTT in Ireland - BAI review On 7 January 2014, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) published the findings of a review undertaken regarding the future prospects for the licensing of commercial Digital Terrestrial Television further to Section...
Polish regulator decides to establish Digital Library of Public Media
posted on 29 November, 2013   (public)
Polish regulator decides to establish Digital Library of Public Media On 18 November 2013, the National Broadcasting Council of Poland (Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji) and 19 public media companies signed a letter of intent establishing the Digital Library of Public...
EU Council stresses need for reinforced cooperation between independent regulators
posted on 28 November, 2013   (public)
EU Council stresses need for reinforced cooperation between independent regulators The Council of the European Union, which gathered on 25 - 26 November 2013 in Brussels in its Education, youth, culture and sport configuration, adopted key Conclusions on media freedom and...
Major Events: Report submitted to the Swedish government
posted on 25 November, 2013   (public)
Major Events: Report submitted to the Swedish government On 15 November 2013, the Swedish Broadcasting Authority (SBA) submitted a Report on a List of designated events considered to be of major importance for society to the government. In February 2013, the SBA was...