The Commission published its initial thoughts – based on earlier
consultations – and launched a new consultation today. It wants
comments by 5th September before it starts writing the new law.
According to Viviane Reding, the Commissioner responsible for
Information Society and Media, the new law will "give Europe’s
media industry the most modern and flexible rules in the
world."
The Commission believes that telecom providers soon will be able
to deliver broadcasting services in a quality equal to traditional
TV, while traditional content providers will enter the
communications markets.
Ms Reding promised better competition and consumer choice
together with protection for children and cultural diversity in the
new regime. "Existing rules, which have been overtaken by
technological and market developments, must be abolished,” she
said.
The 1989 law already has protections against TV programmes that
are likely to impair the physical, mental or moral development of
minors. But this may be tightened to address online content. The
new consultation refers to a Commission Communication, adopted 1st
June 2005, that acknowledged the challenge of making all platforms
delivering content "safer from fraudsters, harmful content and
technology failures."
Today's consultation suggests leaving it to member states to
"take appropriate measures" to protect children but encouraging
them "to put in place systems of co-regulation or self-regulation
as well as systems of filtering, age verification, labelling and
classification of content."
It also recommends a rule that obliges member states to ensure
that audiovisual content services do not contain any incitement to
hatred based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief,
disability, age or sexual orientation.
Another consideration is a possible new right for a broadcaster
to show short reports from a broadcaster in another member state –
so that a big part of the public in one country is not excluded
from seeing important events from another country on free TV.
The consultation also looks briefly at the rules on advertising
spots, product placement, programme sponsorship and
teleshopping.
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