Red tape and folderol entangling new-media offerings will result ...

(TVWF) directive, now covering only linear (traditional) programming, to expand to “non-linear” on-demand offerings. In a March 23 position paper, AmCham said it backs EC moves regarding traditional broadcasting, but is “concerned the proposal extends the scope of the directive to the online area, without demonstrating market failures to justify regulation and without assessing the impact on employment in the EU.” Most on-demand services already come under the e-commerce directive, AmCham said. It criticized parts of the proposal, including: (1) A definition of AV services covered that is unclear and too broad. It should focus on services mainly about AV content and otherwise fully comparable to TV services (i.e., filling the whole screen and changing several times per sec.) rather than on websites that happen to include some AV element or content delivered to new devices. (2) The draft directive requires EU nations to ensure AV media services promote the protection of children and prevention of incitement to hate or bias, provisions likely to stick the online world with regulatory mandates and higher costs. (3) Unlike the TVWF, adopted to address lack of market forces in traditional broadcasting, there’s no lack of AV media service providers on the Internet. The Commission should have clear evidence of market failure before imposing more regulation, AmCham said. The proposal, adopted in Dec. by the EC, is getting European Parliament review. The culture & education (CULT) committee is vetting it, as are panels on women’s rights and gender equality; economic and monetary affairs; industry, research and energy; internal market and consumer protection; and civil liberties, justice and home affairs, a parliamentary spokesman said. All 6 panels are to meet June 1-2, with a vote on the CULT official report Oct. 9 or 10, a CULT committee spokeswoman said. Dec. plenary debate and a vote are likely, she said.