The European broadcasting landscape has seen unprecedented change in recent years. With more competition than ever in television markets and new customer behavior altering the way content is distributed and consumed, developing niches such as mobile TV are becoming a more important part of the broadcast equation and present a new set of regulatory issues.
One of the most influential people in Europe in determining broadcast and media regulation is Viviane Reding, commissioner for information society and media. Reding spoke with Via Satellite Associate Editor Mark Holmes about what the European Commission can do to ensure that Europe’s citizens have access to the latest media services.
VIA SATELLITE: What is the significance of the decision to institute pan-European licensing for mobile satellite services?
REDING: Given that the European space industry holds 40 percent of world markets for manufacturing, launching and operating satellites, clearly the potential of the European satellite market is huge, and there is a lot to gain for satellite system operators. But until now investments by these operators have often been discouraged as a result of the 27 different national selection procedures in place. Therefore, to simplify things, create economies of scale and increase transparency and legal certainty, the European Commission, with the help of the European Parliament and the Council, adopted a single European procedure for selecting operators of mobile satellite services. This new one-stop-shop-procedure will not only cut red tape and save a lot of time, but it will also enable an operator from the United Kingdom or France to compete on the same basis with a satellite operator from Sweden or Luxembourg because the selection criteria used are the same now no matter in which EU (European Union) country operators would like to offer their services. Establishing a common selection procedure for 27 sovereign nations is an innovation for the satellite world and acknowledges the fact that, by their very nature, satellite communication systems do not know any borders and should in fact cover the largest possible part of our EU territory.
VIA SATELLITE: Do you believe you have created a level playing field for satellite operators?
REDING: The new EU decision will give industry long-term legal certainty to operate throughout the single market. Until now, in spite of the clear cross-border dimension of satellite services, existing national rules obstructed the creation of a single market for mobile satellite services by leaving the selection of operators to each member state based on different sets of criteria. The result was a patchwork of procedures, legal uncertainty and a substantial competitive disadvantage for the satellite industry in Europe. Having now the same criteria for all operators who would like to offer their services in Europe clearly creates a level playing field and will enhance competition. Only the best with the most attractive service package will succeed.
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