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Regulation News

New President for the Swiss Independent Complaints Authority
posted on 13 March, 2019   (public)
Mascha Santschi Kallay succeeded Vincent Augustin as of 1 January 2019 Following her appointment on 7 November 2018 by the Swiss Federal Council, since 1 January 2019 Mascha Santschi Kallay is the new President of the Independent Complaints Authority (ICA). She succeeded ...
Estonian regulator changes name further to merger with Consumer Protection Board
posted on 13 March, 2019   (public)
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority started operations since 1 January 2019 As of 1 January 2019, further to the proposition of the Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, the Estonian Technical Regulatory Authority (TRA) and the...
Online safety and AVMSD’s transposition: Ireland announces public consultation for a new law
posted on 06 March, 2019   (public)
Ireland intends to make online service providers responsible for the protection of minors, under the control of an Online Safety Commissioner On 4 March 2019, Minister Bruton, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in Ireland, launched a six-week ...
EAO reports on national rules for the promotion of European works in Europe
posted on 04 March, 2019   (public)
Mapping highlights fragmented European approaches Within the context of the on-going discussions around the implementation of the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), the need for comparative data and analysis on the different initiatives and rules in support...
Artificial Intelligence: CoE looks at impacts on human rights, democracy and the rule of law
posted on 25 February, 2019   (public)
Human rights should remain at the centre of artificial intelligence designs The Council of Europe is addressing the impacts of Artificial Intelligence on human rights, democracy and the rule of law through an inclusive multi-stakeholder process...
New composition for the French CSA
posted on 18 February, 2019   (public)
Roch-Olivier Maistre took over the Presidency from Olivier Schrameck Following the proposal of the French President Emmanuel Macron and the endorsement by the National Assembly and the Senate, Roch-Olivier Maistre was appointed as President of the Conseil supérieur de...
Children’s Media Literacy: Ofcom’s Media Use and Attitudes Report 2018
posted on 06 February, 2019   (public)
Report reveals shift in media habits towards individual viewing via Netflix and YouTube as children increasingly own their own devices  On 28 January 2019, Ofcom published its Annual Report on Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes. It provides detailed evidence...
EAO reports on Media Law Enforcement in 8 countries
posted on 31 January, 2019   (public)
Effective law enforcement increasingly dependent on complex multidisciplinary approach The way the Internet and new communication technologies revolutionised the dissemination of audiovisual content across borders has resulted in a digital cyberspace that is overwhelmed with...
Belgian CSA issues positive assessment: PSB fulfilled public service mission
posted on 28 January, 2019   (public)
RTBF encouraged to diversify sports broadcasts and boost off-screen diversity Further to Art. 136, 5° of the Coordinated Decree on audiovisual media services, the Belgian Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) is responsible for delivering an opinion on how...
Belgian study maps out investment obligations of on-demand AVMS providers in the EU
posted on 22 January, 2019   (public)
Study reveals highly fragmented approach in Member States The Free University of Brussels (Université libre de Bruxelles) published in December 2018 a study on the Obligations on on-demand audiovisual media services providers to financially contribute to the production...
Identifying Media Literacy projects to support quality journalism: Council of Europe MSI-JOQ survey
posted on 15 January, 2019   (public)
EPRA members are warmly encouraged to participate in the CoE survey on Media Literacy projects In Bratislava, members of the EPRA MIL Taskforce have agreed to help identify stakeholders and partners that are working on MIL projects in order to assist the Committee of Experts...
Media Literacy - CoE publishes analysis on best European practices
posted on 15 January, 2019   (public)
Involving a large variety of stakeholders to share and exchange knowledge and resources is key for sustainable MIL projects On 20 December 2018, the Media and Internet Governance Division of the Council of Europe presented a study on “European practices of the Regulatory...
Reminder: EPRA Work Programme for 2019
posted on 14 January, 2019   (public)
Provide your final comments & get involved in an exciting WP! This is to kindly remind you that the deadline for submitting your valuable input for the draft Annual Work Programme, which lays out EPRA’s priorities and anticipated work for 2019, by assembling your...
Irish BAI Consults on draft Media Plurality Policy
posted on 19 December, 2018   (public)
Draft provides clarification on definition of Media Plurality and on framework of action for Irish regulator On 11 December 2018, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) launched  a public consultation on a new draft Policy on Media Plurality. The Mission in...
Finnish Regulator to change name and merge with traffic safety authority
posted on 19 December, 2018   (public)
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency starts operations on 1 January 2019 As of January 1, 2019 FICORA, the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, will merge with Finnish traffic safety authority and certain functions of the Finnish Transport Agency to form...
Belgian CSA and French INA engage in twinning project with Tunisian HAICA
posted on 18 December, 2018   (public)
Ambitious twinning project to support strategic and technical evolution of young Tunisian regulator On 13 December 2018, the Belgian "Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel" (the audiovisual regulator of the French speaking Community in Belgium - CSA) and the...
Austrian study on Children, adolescents and young adults in the age of VOD provides background for lively debates
posted on 17 December, 2018   (public)
Outcomes of KommAustria/RTR event: "What do we believe: Living in a web of communications, commerce and artificial intelligence" Panel "Freedom of expression and ensuring diversity: what can we expect of regulation in the age of algorithms?" © David...
Diversity in the Broadcasting Sector: Creative Diversity Network publishes second report
posted on 17 December, 2018   (public)
While progress is apparent on-screen, changes seem to be happening more slowly behind the camera The Creative Diversity Network (CDN), a forum which brings together member organisations across the UK TV industry, and creates a common standard for monitoring diversity across...
Comparing AVMSD provisions: updated legal tool
posted on 11 December, 2018   (public)
EMR updates Synopsis of Audiovisual Media Services Directive As previously reported, on 28 November 2018, the consolidated text of the revised Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Directive 2010/13/EU on the...
New composition for the Moroccan audiovisual regulator
posted on 10 December, 2018   (public)
New composition for the Moroccan audiovisual regulator On 3 December 2018, the Moroccan King Mohammed VI appointed Ms. Latifa Akharbach as President of the "Haute autorité de la communication audiovisuelle" (HACA) who took over the position from Ms. Amina...
Austrian regulator organises event on future of regulatory policy based on new research findings
posted on 05 December, 2018   (public)
KommAustria/RTR event: "What do we believe: Living in a web of communications, commerce and artificial intelligence", Vienna 5 December The Austrian Regulator KommAustria is organising with RTR Media Division an event titled "Living in a web of communications,...
EAO reports on Brexit impact on the European audiovisual market
posted on 03 December, 2018   (public)
Legal report highlights Brexit's impact on  flow of persons, goods, services and funds The United Kingdom is by far the largest European audiovisual market and its withdrawal from the European Union would have a profound impact on the entire sector. It is against this...
Revised AVMSD: publication in the Official Journal of the EU
posted on 28 November, 2018   (public)
Member States will have until 19 September 2020 to transpose the text On 28 November 2018, the consolidated text of the revised Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Directive 2010/13/EU on the coordination of...
Assessing Media Pluralism across Europe: MPM2017 results published
posted on 27 November, 2018   (public)
This year's MPM edition highlights a general trend of stagnation and even deterioration On 26 November 2018, the European University Institute's Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF) in Florence has released the 2017 edition of the Media Pluralism...
Hate speech Council of Europe Conference: presentations and conclusions now available
posted on 26 November, 2018   (public)
National audiovisual media regulatory authorities should play an important role in promoting democracy, a culture of tolerance and diversity The Council of Europe, in partnership with the Croatian Agency for Electronic Media organised a regional conference on "Addressing...
Transparency of media ownership and opinion-forming power: OFCOM launches monitoring tool
posted on 19 November, 2018   (public)
Analysis for 2017 shows a sufficiently diversified market and no media with a dominant position On 13 November 2018, the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) launched the Swiss Media Monitoring, an interactive Website which aims to document the degree of influence of the...
Media developments in Denmark: Summary and Discourse 2018
posted on 24 October, 2018   (public)
Shift in media use points to Danes' acceptance of new media and adaptability to new ways to access media content In early October 2018, the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces published the fifth edition of its annual Report on media development in Denmark. The Summary...
EAO reports on localised, targeting and language media offers in Europe
posted on 24 October, 2018   (public)
One third of all AV media services established in the EU exist as locally adapted versions On 16 October 2018, the European Audiovisual Observatory issued its annual report based on data gathered in the MAVISE Database. This year’s edition is entitled “Audiovisual...
Licensing systems for AVMS in EU-28: in-depth analysis by the EAO
posted on 27 September, 2018   (public)
Reinforced cooperation between NRAs is crucial given the variety of licensing procedures The European Audiovisual Observatory published a Mapping of licensing systems for audiovisual media services in EU-28 on 26 September 2018. This very comprehensive study, the first...
Addressing Harmful Content Online: Ofcom's contribution to the online regulation debate
posted on 26 September, 2018   (public)
Broadcasting content frameworks cannot be transferred wholesale to the online world even though principles from broadcasting regulation could be relevant On 18 September 2018, Ofcom published a discussion document examining the area of harmful online content.  Intended as...

Archived Regulation News

Regulators' Responses to the HLG Report on Media Freedom and Pluralism
posted on 15 October, 2013   (public)
Regulators' Responses to the HLG Report on Media Freedom and Pluralism The Public Consultation on the Independent Report from the High level Group (HLG) on Media Freedom and Pluralism launched by the European Commission in March closed at the end of June 2013. The...
Ofcom reports on disabled consumers’ use of communications services
posted on 26 September, 2013   (public)
Ofcom has published its most comprehensive study into disabled consumers’ use of communications services. The research shows that younger disabled people are taking advantage of the benefits of being online. Among the youngest age group (15-34), levels of internet...
Digital Radio: Ofcom unveils 2013 Report
posted on 25 September, 2013   (public)
On 25 September Ofcom has published its Digital Radio Report for 2013 as part of the Digital Radio Action Plan announced by the Government in July 2010. In the report ‘digital radio’ is used in its broadest sense to include all platforms and technologies that...
First Country Ranking of Community Media in Europe
posted on 12 September, 2013   (public)
The Community Media Forum Europe (CMFE), an international non-profit organisation which provides a common platform for networks, national federations and projects active in the "third media" sector, has completed the first Country Ranking of Community Media in...
Ofcom publishes its 10th Communications Market Report
posted on 01 August, 2013   (public)
Ofcom’s 10th Communications Market Report, which was published on 1 August 2013, reveals that people are still coming together to watch TV in the living room with 91% of UK adults view TV on the main set each week, up from 88% in 2002. However, people are increasingly...
Council of Europe addresses role of regulators on gender equality in the media
posted on 31 July, 2013   (public)
On 10 July 2013, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a Recommendation on gender equality and media. In its preamble, the recommendation emphasises that: Gender equality is an indispensable condition for the full enjoyment of human rights; Genuine...
Short extracts: French CSA consults on the implementation of new rules
posted on 23 July, 2013   (public)
On 17 July 2013, French broadcasting regulator Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) opened a public consultation on the implementation of recently introduced rules concerning the broadcast of short extracts of sports events. The new rules were set by a decision...
Assessing PSB funding: Irish regulator publishes recommendations
posted on 22 July, 2013   (public)
On 18 July 2013, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has published recommendations in respect of the required levels of funding for the public service broadcasters (PSBs), TG4 and RTÉ, over the next five years. The recommendations are based on a 248 page report...
EIGE reports on gender equality in decision-making in media organisations
posted on 11 July, 2013   (public)
Advancing gender equality in decision-making in media organisations, EIGE Report   On 21 June 2013, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) published a report entitled "Women and the Media - Advancing gender equality in decision-making in media...
What Future for DTT Platforms: French Ministry opens a consultation
posted on 10 July, 2013   (public)
The Direction générale des médias et des industries culturelles (DGMIC) of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication launched on 2 July 2013 a public consultation on the future of DTT platforms, further to the work currently conducted by the French...
Update on media freedom issues: new report of the OSCE - RFOM
posted on 20 June, 2013   (public)
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, delivered her regular report on the status of media freedom within the OSCE region to the OSCE Permanent Council on 13 juin 2013, three months after she was re-elected for a second mandate. The 36 pages report,...
Macedonia completes analogue terrestrial switch off
posted on 20 June, 2013   (public)
As planned, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia switched off the analog terrestrial television signal on 31 May 2013, at midnight after a five-year period of simulcasting. The two regulatory authorities in charge, the Broadcasting Council and the Agency for Electronic...
Irish BAI issues revised Rules on Food Advertising to Children
posted on 07 June, 2013   (public)
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has issued on 4th June 2013 revised versions of its General and Children’s Commercial Communications Codes. The Codes have been updated to include rules on commercial communications for High Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) food...
Ofcom reports on children’s increased exposure to alcohol advertising on TV
posted on 28 May, 2013   (public)
On 24 May Ofcom published a report on children’s and young people's exposure to alcohol advertising, which shows that the average number of alcohol adverts seen by children per week has increased significantly from 2.7 in 2007 to 3.2 in 2011. The research looks at...
Standard Settings for Media Freedom: European Parliament adopts Resolution
posted on 21 May, 2013   (public)
On 21 May, the European Parliament approved the initiative report of Romanian MEP Renate Weber (PNL, ALDE) on the EU Charter by adopting a resolution on standard settings for media freedom across the EU. The resolution calls on Member States and the Commission to take...
Accessibility: Ofcom's proposals to improve the quality of subtitling
posted on 17 May, 2013   (public)
On 17 May, Ofcom has published proposals for consultation aimed at improving live subtitling to provide a better viewing experience for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in the UK. While pre-prepared subtitling is generally of a good quality, viewers have made clear...
Belgian CSA publishes study on representation of homosexuality in the audiovisual media
posted on 17 May, 2013   (public)
On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, the CSA of the French speaking Community of Belgium has published the outcome of its first assessment of stereotypes related to the sexual orientation in radio and TV broadcast content. The CSA has been monitoring...
European Commission consults on rapidly converging audiovisual market
posted on 25 April, 2013   (public)
The European Commission adopted on 24 April 2013 a Green Paper inviting stakeholders and the wider public to share their view on issues related to the rapid convergence in the audiovisual market and growing importance of the connected television in Europe. The changes in the...
ECHR rules that ban on paid political advertising in the UK justified
posted on 23 April, 2013   (public)
The European Court of Human Rights held on 22 April 2013, by nine votes to eight, that there was no violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights in the case of Animal Defenders International v. the United Kingdom. The case...
Irish BAI launches Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs
posted on 12 April, 2013   (public)
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has launched on 9 April 2013 a Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs. The Broadcasting Act 2009 requires broadcasters to ensure that all news broadcast is presented in an objective and impartial...
Ofcom publishes updated rules on party political and referendum broadcasts
posted on 02 April, 2013   (public)
On 21 March 2013, Ofcom published updated rules on party political and referendum broadcasts (PPRB Rules). The revision of the rules was preceded by a consultation carried out by Ofcom between November 2012 and January 2013. The review of the PPRB Rules was related to recent...
New chairperson for Dutch CvdM
by Marcel Betzel (CvdM - NL) posted on 27 March, 2013   (public)
Prof. Dr. Madeleine de Cock Buning, commissioner at the Commissariaat voor de Media (CvdM) since July 2009, has been appointed chairperson of the Dutch regulatory authority CvdM as of 1 April 2013 by the State Secretary of Media Affairs. In addition to her work for the CvdM,...
Measuring Diversity on Television - Outcome of French and Belgian assessment for 2012
posted on 26 March, 2013   (public)
The French and Belgian (French-Speaking Community) regulatory authorities have recently published the outcome of their assessment of diversity in television broadcast content for the year 2012. The objective of the research was to assess the perception of diversity in...
Independence of Audiovisual regulators: Commission launches public consultation
posted on 22 March, 2013   (public)
Pursuant to the 30 policy recommendations contained in the report of the High Level Group (HLG) on Media Freedom and Pluralism, which was made public on 21 January 2013, the European Commission launched two public consultations on media freedom and pluralism and on the...
Protection of minors in Romania: CNA launches public hotline
posted on 21 March, 2013   (public)
The National Audiovisual Council of Romania (NAC) launched a new public hotline number where cases of violation of the protection of minors in the field of television broadcasting may be reported. The free of charge hotline was launched as a result of a debate organised by...
DTT in Europe in 2012: Trends and Developments
posted on 12 March, 2013   (public)
the European Audiovisual Observatory, based on figures from the Yearbook 2012 and the MAVISE database, has published a press release highlighting the salient trends and developments of digital terrestrial television in Europe in 2012. According to the Observatory: 22 - out...
Live Internet streaming of free-to-air channels may be prohibited: CJEU Judgment
posted on 10 March, 2013   (public)
Further to a request for a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) held on 7 March 2013 that TV...
Gender Equality: REFRAM awards pilot project to Moroccan HACA
posted on 08 March, 2013   (public)
Further to the internal call for tender for a pilot project in favour of gender equality launched in October 2012 by the Francophone Network Media Regulators (REFRAM), the jury unanimously selected the project presented by the HACA, the Moroccan regulator on 8 March 2013. ...
OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media Dunja Mijatović reappointed
posted on 07 March, 2013   (public)
Picture credits: OSCE/Curtis Budden On 7 March 2013, the 57 OSCE participating States unanimously agreed to reappoint the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to a second three-year term. Dunja Mijatović was appointed...
Social media: A first analysis by the French CSA
posted on 26 February, 2013   (public)
The Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), the French regulatory authority in charge of broadcasting, published on 19 February 2013, a first analysis of the phenomenon of "social TV," which focuses on the delimitation of its scope, its development,...