The Implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive by National Regulatory Authorities National Responses to Regulatory Challenges

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) which regulates broadcasting and on-demand audiovisual media services is at the nexus of current discussions about the convergence of media. The Green Paper of the Commission of April 2013 reflects the struggle of the European Union to come to terms with the phenomenon of convergence and highlights current legal uncertainties. The (theoretical) quest for an appropriate and future-oriented regulatory framework at the European level may be contrasted to the practice of national regulatory authorities. When faced with new media services and new business models, national regulators will inevitably have to make decisions and choices that take into account providers’ interests to offer their services as well as viewers’ interests to receive information. This balancing act performed by national regulators may tip towards the former or latter depending on the national legal framework; social, political and economic considerations; as well as cultural perceptions. This paper thus examines how certain rules contained in the AVMSD are applied by national regulators. It focuses first on the definition of an on-demand audiovisual media service and its scope. Second, it analyses the measures adopted with a view to protection minors in on-demand services and third discusses national approaches towards the promotion of European works in on-demand services. It aims at underlining the significance of national regulatory authorities and the guidelines these adopt to clarify the rules of a key EU Directive of the “media law acquis”.

Under One Umbrella: Problems of Internet Retransmissions of Broadcasts and Implications for New Audiovisual Content Services

The development of broadband Internet connections has fostered new audiovisual media services and opened new possibilities for accessing broadcasts. The Internet retransmission case of TVCatchup before the CJEU was the first case concerning new technologies in the light of Art. 3.1. of the Information Society Directive. On the other side of the Atlantic the Aereo case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and challenged the interpretation of public performance rights. In both cases the recipients of the services could receive broadcast programs in a way alternative to traditional broadcasting channels including terrestrial broadcasting or cable transmission. The Aereo case raised the debate on the possible impact of the interpretation of copyright law in the context of the development of new technologies, particularly cloud based services. It is interesting to see whether any similar problems occur in the EU. The „umbrella” in the title refers to Art. 8 WCT, which covers digital and Internet transmission and constitutes the backrgound for the EU and the U.S. legal solutions. The article argues that no international standard for qualification of the discussed services exists.

Use of audiovisual messages from land user to land user for sharing knowledge about SLM: experiences from a pilot project in Kenya and Tajikistan

The global World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) initiative has developed standardised tools and methods to compile and evaluate knowledge available about SLM. This knowledge is now combined and enriched with audiovisual information in order to give a voice to land users, reach a broad range of stakeholders, and assist in scaling up SLM to reverse trends of degradation, desertification, and drought. Five video products, adapted to the needs of different target groups, are created and embedded in already existing platforms for knowledge sharing of SLM such as the WOCAT database and Google Earth application. A pilot project was carried out in Kenya and Tajikistan to verify ideas and tools while at the same time assessing the usefulness of the suggested products on the ground. Video has the potential to bridge the gap between different actor groups and enable communication and sharing on different levels and scales: locally, regionally, and globally. Furthermore, it is an innovative tool to link local and scientific knowledge, raise awareness, and support advocacy for SLM. Keywords: Sustainable Land Management (SLM), knowledge sharing, audiovisual messages, video, World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT)

The New Audiovisual Media Services Directive : Television without Frontiers, Television without Cultural Diversity

After long deliberations, the European Community (EC) has completed the reform of its audiovisual media regulation. The paper examines the main tenets of this reform with particular focus on its implications for the diversity of cultural expressions in the European media landscape. It also takes into account the changed patterns of consumer and business behaviour due to the advances in digital media and their wider spread in society. The paper criticises the somewhat unimaginative approach of the EC to new media and the political (and at times protectionist) considerations behind some of the Directive's provisions.

The Changing Environment of Audiovisual Media. New Technologies, New Patterns of Consumer/Business Behaviour and Their Implications for Audiovisual Media Regulation

Digital TV offers of 200 channels and 500 video-on-demand films, podcasting, mobile television, a new web blog being created every two seconds - these are some of the factual elements depicting contemporary audiovisual media in the digital environment. The present article looks into some of these technological advances and sketches their implications for the markets of media content, in particular as newly emerging patterns of consumer and business behaviour are concerned. Ultimately, it puts forward the question of whether the existing audiovisual media regulatory models, which are still predominantly analogue-based, have been rendered obsolete by the transformed (and continually transforming) digital environment.

The Reform of the EC Audiovisual Media Regulation : Television Without Cultural Diversity

In the profoundly changing and dynamic world of contemporary audiovisual media, what has remained surprisingly unaffected is regulation. In the European Union, the new Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS), proposed by the European Commission on December 13, 2005, should allegedly rectify this situation. Amending the existing Television without Frontiers Directive, it should offer a fresh approach and meet the challenge of appropriately regulating media in a complex environment. It is meant to achieve a balance between the free circulation of TV broadcast and new audiovisual media and the preservation of values of cultural identity and diversity, while respecting the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality inherent to the Community. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether and how the changes envisaged to the EC audiovisual media regime might influence cultural diversity in Europe. It addresses subsequently the question of whether the new AVMS properly safeguards the balance between competition and the public interest in this regard, or whether cultural diversity remains a mere political banner.

Política y comunicación : el impacto de la Ley de Servicios de Comunicación Audiovisual en el escenario mediático

El año 2009 significó para Argentina un momento de discusiones que provocaron interpelaciones al sistema democrático. Después 26 años de recuperada la democracia, el Estado modificó la dictatorial legislación que regula los servicios de comunicación audiovisuales. Esto implica una ampliación de la democratización del sistema de medios, tanto en las voces presentes, como en los autorizados para su uso y explotación. Esta nueva legislación permite que más y diversos sujetos puedan hacer uso de su derecho a comunicar y obliga a los oligopolios de la comunicación a ceder parte de sus licencias, de ahí las presiones económicas para frenar la nueva norma.

El impacto de la Ley de Servicios de Comunicación Audiovisual en los diarios mendocinos Los Andes y Uno : un análisis desde la intencionalidad editorial

En base al modelo teórico metodológico de la intencionalidad editorial, que sostiene que el periodismo es objetivo (en tanto remite a fuentes), y parcial (toma de posición), analizamos la cobertura realizada por los diarios Los Andes y UNO sobre la Ley de Servicios de Comunicación Audiovisual. La hipótesis fue que los diarios locales construyeron, a través de piezas periodísticas, un sentido común que respondió a sus intereses corporativos en detrimento del derecho humano a la comunicación. El análisis consistió en un observatorio de medios que combinó metodología cuantitativa y cualitativa, desde el 27 de agosto al 11 de octubre de 2009.

El aporte de la producción audiovisual a la reconstrucción de la memoria y la vigencia de los derechos humanos

En el presente estudio se buscó indagar a los referentes del sector audiovisual que generan producciones de contenido social y/o político, por medio de entrevistas semi-estructuradas sobre la concepción de su propia práctica, la concepción teórica, el significado político de su producción y la articulación con movimientos sociales.

Las organizaciones sociales y los jóvenes : Nuevos modos de inclusión a partir de la producción audiovisual

La investigación se enmarca en la perspectiva de estudios sobre la producción de cine y video comunitario, que surgen en el contexto de la democratización político-cultural que vivió América Latina en los años ochenta. Esta producción se ha articulado, desde entonces, con importantes cambios tecnológicos en las formas socio-productivas y con nuevas políticas de comunicación La difusión de las TIC y el abaratamiento de los costos de los equipos desde los años 80? posibilitaron el acceso de mayores sectores de la población al manejo, cada vez más amplio, de herramientas audiovisuales. Esos avances cobran un nuevo impulso en la actualidad con políticas como la Ley de Servicios de Comunicación Audiovisual y otras de similares características en países de la región, inspiradas en concepciones más participativas. El objeto de estudio de esta investigación es la producción de cine y video comunitario que desarrollan organizaciones socioculturales en la zona noroeste del Conurbano Bonaerense. Con ese propósito, se realizaron entrevistas a diversas entidades que fomentan la inclusión de jóvenes a través de la participación en producciones audiovisuales de carácter educativo y cultural. En esas entrevistas nos interesó indagar no sólo las características de los proyectos, las modalidades de difusión y las capacidades en términos de sus recursos humanos y tecnológicos, sino también ahondar en las características que poseen las propias organizaciones, su historia y el tipo de vínculo que establecen con la comunidad de referencia y con el Estado

Literatura em rede nacional : Observaçoes sobre a adaptaçao da obra A Muralha para o meio audiovisual

O artigo tem como objeto de análise a adaptaçao da obra brasileira A Muralha, de Dinah Silveira de Queiroz. Encomendada à autora em homenagem ao IV Centenário da fundaçao da cidade de Sao Paulo (Brasil), a obra relata a violência vivida pelos primeiros habitantes da vila de Sao Paulo de Piratininga, no fim do século XVII. Romance histórico clássico, a obra é transposta para o meio audiovisual em comemoraçao aos 500 anos do Brasil, em 2000, com autoria de Maria Adelaide Amaral e direçao geral de Denise Saraceni e Carlos Araújo. Devido à extensao da minissérie - 49 capítulos -, foi escolhido para análise apenas o primeiro episódio, colocado em comparaçao ao início do primeiro capítulo do livro. Como embasamento teórico, o trabalho apóia-se nos fundamentos da literatura comparada e na teoria da adaptaçao desenvolvida por Robert Stam, da qual se optou pelos aspectos ligados às modificaçoes e permutas da história, personagens e contexto.