The Broadcasting Directive

The Broadcasting Directive seeks to set clear rules for broadcasting online. GESAC and its members have a vested interest in this matter, in light of the fact that according to our annual numbers in 2017, 37% of their collections come from TV and radio broadcasting and retransmissions.

The European Commission intended to revise the rules of the existing Satellite and Cable Directive from 1993 in light of current online transmission possibilities and new forms of retransmission technologies.

The final text of the Broadcasting Directive, first proposed as a regulation by the Commission in 2016 with a slightly different scope to the adopted version, addresses the emerging problems in online broadcasting and deals with three important legal issues that play a crucial role in the functioning of the broadcasting market and remuneration of creators:

All our policies

1. Country of origin principle for online ancillary services of broadcasters:

Certain online services ancillary to broadcasters’ original broadcast programming, when in relation to ‘news and current affairs’ and their ‘own productions’, are made subject to the country of origin principle (Article 3 and Recital 10). While the contractual freedom of broadcasters is preserved within the framework provided in EU law, the possibility for those who want to use this opportunity for the relevant content has been guaranteed by law.

2. Extension of mandatory collective management schemes to new forms of retransmission services

3. Direct injection

More about the legislative process