p2pnet - rss feed: EU Net proposal attacked
p2p news / p2pnet: Cisco Systems and Yahoo are among companies complaining about a proposed European broadcasting law, claiming it could block the growth of formats such as video broadcasts through the Net and mobile phones.
One clause calls for children’s and news programming to have more than half-an-hour between advertisements, something the objectors strongly oppose.
"Under the proposed law, many internet broadcasts’ would face the same requirements on advertising content and production quotas as traditional television," says MarketWatch, going on that the objectors say the move threatens to stifle blogs and other services such as on-demand and interactive video content.
The law is designed to update the EU’s 1989 Television Without Frontiers directive, says the story. It still must be approved by the European Parliament and EU governments and, "The parliament’s culture committee reports in June and a full parliamentary vote is expected by the end of the year."
But the attack shows lobbying will be fierce, says MarketWatch, adding:
"The 1989 Television Without Frontiers directive is best known for its anti-Hollywood bias, requiring broadcasters to show a majority of European content. The new law contains no such quotas, but Intellect’s [program manager Vicky] Read said she believes the European Parliament may actually introduce such restrictions.
"The new law also requires broadcasters of children’s programs and news broadcasts to have 35 minutes between advertisements, a restriction Read says ‘will discourage people from making these type of programs’. Other types of programs could be interupted [sic] every 20 minutes. The law also allows individual countries to impose even-stricter rules."
Also See:
MarketWatch - Top tech firms attack E.U. proposal to regulate Internet, April 18, 2006
April 18th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
It wouldn’t apply to blogs - it is about VIDEO content. As far as I know most blogs are webpage-based, and would therefore not be covered by this. And if the copyright cartel can’t make as much money pushing its DRM-infected wares to kiddies, all the better.
April 19th, 2006 at 1:21 am
Every 20 minutes? Wow, considering that most “hour long” shows i’ve seen on the net are actually only 41 to 42 minutes long, including both the start and finish credits, i’m not surprised the broadcasters are squealing. It’s all about the loss of ads. I’m sure they’d just adapt by making the once every 20 minute block of ads about 10 minutes long though.
April 19th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
ANY new net regulation is a bad idea, the less government is involved with internet content, the better.