14/12/2005

Cineuropa asked Yvon Thiec, Délégué Général of Eurocinema, to give his opinion about the revision of the Directive TV without frontiers, adopted yesterday by the European Commission.

Cineuropa: what is your opinion on the proposal of the Directive Television without frontiers adopted by the Commission?

Yvon Thiec: Eurocinema, association of film and television producers, considers the proposal for a revision of the Directive Television without frontiers, as adopted yesterday by the Commission, to be appropriated and balanced.

Concerning the promotion of European works on online services, the Directive stipulates that these services shall "promote the production and distribution of European works"; from this point of view, the Member states should take into account the financial contribution by such services to the production and right acquisition of European works, and the share of European works in the catalogue of audiovisual media services.

Member states shall report to the Commission on the implementation of these measures in order to allow the Commission to take complementary measures at the end of a period of four years following this implementation.

What about requirements concerning diffusion?

Yvon Thiec: The requirements concerning the diffusion of European contents (quotas) as far as traditional medias are concerned, are held steady as well as provisions in favour of independent production.

The directive allows product placement and broadens the provision for interruption by advertising of films and films for television.

Read also the press release of the SACD in French.