News :: Press pack : Audiovisual without Frontiers
New "Audiovisual without Frontiers" Directive
(09/03/2007) The Commission unveiled on 9 March a consolidated text of the modernised "Television without Frontiers" Directive. After a first reading in the European Parliament and the Council, there is now broad agreement with the Commission about the future legal framework for Europe's audiovisual sector. The new rules, which have been called for especially by the European Parliament, are a response to technological developments and create a new level-playing field in Europe for emerging audiovisual media services (video on demand, mobile TV, audiovisual services on digital TV). European TV- and filmmakers will be given more flexibility to produce digital content which they can then make freely available to consumers thanks to advertising. The new Directive reaffirms the pillars of Europe's audiovisual model, which are cultural diversity, protection of minors, consumer protection, media pluralism, and the fight against racial and religious hatred,. The Commission also proposes to ensure the independence of national media regulators. The consolidated text of the new Directive will now go into a second reading by the European Parliament and Council.
-Consolidated text for "Audiovisual without Frontiers" Directive
-Impact assessment report and statistics
-Press Fact Sheets :
- Why Europe needs to modernise its TV without Frontiers Directive : English - German - French
- Modern rules for TV and TV-like services : English - German - French
- Modern advertising rules : English - German - French
- Promoting cultural diversity in audiovisual media : English - German - French
- Why and how Europe seeks pluralism in audiovisual media : English - German - French
Further information :
-The Audiovisual Policy website has a consolidated version of the TVwF directive (1989 directive as amended by the 1997 directive) and a brief description of the main provisions introduced by the new directive amending the "Television Without Frontiers" directive.
-Previous press releases and speeches :
- TV without Frontiers: Commission proposes modernised rules for digital era TV and TV-like services(IP/05/1573 of 13/12/2005)
- Commission starts final phase in consultations on modernising EU rules for audiovisual content(IP/05/908 of 12/07/2005)
- Commission launches five-year strategy to boost the digital economy(IP/05/643 of 1/06/2005)
- New EU Rules for a Convergent Multi-Media World : the need for a "Light Touch" (SPEECH/05/590 of 10/10/2005)
- Better regulation for Europe’s media industry: the Commission’s approach(SPEECH/05/532 of 22/09/2005)
- Europe, the media and European media policy(SPEECH/05/552 of 26/09/2005)
Additional Information
Commission Press Room: IP/07/311
More from the newsroom
- LIBRARY ITEM > POLICY AND LEGISLATION: Legislative Proposal for an Audiovisual Media Services Directive: Towards a modern framework for audiovisual content (COM/2005/0646) (13/12/2005)