Regulatory Framework - Television without frontiers directive
Television without Frontiers Directive
The single European market - one of the biggest achievements of European integration - applies to television broadcasts as much as anything else.
Everybody wins broadcasters can attract larger audiences and viewers get a greater choice of channels
Just as any of us is free to buy chocolate, wine or a new car in any EU country, we can also watch TV channels from all over Europe.
To function optimally, this single European TV market needs a minimum set of common rules covering aspects like television advertising, production of programmes and protection of minors.
Since 1989 this has been provided by the Television without Frontiers Directive (TVWF).
TVWF aims to create the conditions necessary for the free movement of television broadcasts within the EU (including most forms of transmission to the public of television programmes).
It achieves this by preventing Member States from restricting reception and redistribution of broadcasts from other EU countries.
1989 - TVWF passed
The technological revolution in the early 1980s - and the rapidly growing deficit with the US in audiovisual trade - were what first provided the incentive for European regulation. Rapid developments in TV and radio broadcasting technology – especially satellite broadcasting - resulted in commercial TV and radio stations sprouting up all over Western Europe.
Since broadcast signals don’t stop at national borders, and the laws governing the audiovisual sector differed from one country to another, the EU came up with some minimum standards applicable in all member countries.
1997 - TVWF updated
The directive was updated in 1997 to take account of further developments in the audiovisual sector.
It now governs the EU-wide coordination of national legislation in the following areas:
2007 - TVWF becomes AVMS
The new Audiovisual Media Services Directive which also covers on-demand services must be applied by EU governments by 19 December 2009 at the latest.
