EU updates rules for PSBs
July 6, 2009
The European Commission has adopted a new Communication on state aid for the funding of public service broadcasters. The new Communication replaces the Commission's 2001 Broadcasting Communication. The main changes include an increased focus on accountability and effective control at the national level, including a transparent evaluation of the overall impact of publicly-funded new media services.
Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding said: “The adoption of this Communication will give additional legal certainty to the media sector in Europe and ensure a fair competition between public broadcasting and private media. One of the Commission’s main objectives is to preserve a vibrant media landscape in the online environment, notably by ensuring that online offers of public broadcasters do not distort competition to the detriment of offers from online services and print media. The Communication adopted today responds to this objective in a clear and efficient way.”