On 24 August 2015, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the review of the EU Cable and Satellite Directive. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomes this move. The EBU believes that updating the provisions of this law is crucial to meeting the objectives of the EU’s ambitious Digital Single Market Strategy.

Thanks to the licensing rules adopted under the current Directive more than 20 years ago, cable and satellite TV viewers today enjoy access to a large range of TV channels from across Europe. It is now time to apply similar provisions to broadcasters’ online offers via any platform and for any device.

The EBU favours an approach that will allow public service media (PSM) to increase the availability of their online content and innovative services for EU audiences, while at the same time enabling creators to continue to generate revenue. An updated Cable and Satellite Directive presents a clear opportunity to achieve these twin goals.

A technologically-neutral application of licensing rules for online programme services would help facilitate the online and cross-border availability of broadcaster content in a way that matches consumer preferences, without undermining the contractual flexibility and territoriality options that are crucial to the development of public service media productions.

The EBU looks forward to contributing to the public consultation on this subject and engaging with all relevant stakeholders on the issues at stake. The consultation runs until 16 November 2015.