Advanced Television

European Parliament OKs audiovisual media rules

October 3, 2018

By Colin Mann

A plenary session  of the European Parliament has approved the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). Part of the Digital Single Market strategy, the new rules pave the way for a fairer regulatory environment for the entire audiovisual sector, including on-demand services and video sharing platforms.

They promote European audiovisual productions and guarantee the independence of audiovisual regulators, strengthen the protection of minors and reinforce the battle against hate speech in all audiovisual content.

The new Directive additionally promotes European works by guaranteeing a 30 per cent share of European works in on-demand catalogues and keeps the country-of-origin principle as the cornerstone of EU audiovisual regulation, with more clarity on which Member State’s rules apply in each case.

Vice-President Andrus Ansip, responsible for the Digital Single Market, and Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, responsible for Digital Economy and Society welcomed the positive vote: “Europe needs audiovisual rules that are fit for the changing audiovisual landscape. All operators will be now part of a fairer regulatory environment, where Europeans, in particular children, are better protected from hate speech and harmful content and where European productions can flourish,” they stated.

As the next step, the Council will adopt the Directive in the coming weeks, before it will enter into force by the end of the year. Once formally adopted, Member States will have 21 months to transpose the new Directive into their national legislation.

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