Law Changing About Watching British TV in Europe?
Oct 8th 2009, 4:34 pm
#1
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Law Changing About Watching British TV in Europe?
I have just been on a site called TV Catch Up and found this statement. Does anyone know anything about a new directive coming into force that could affect our viewing habits in December?
If everything goes to plan then TVCatchup will be allowed to open up to the 'EU' by December 19th this year.
We fully understand where you are coming from and we truly wish that we could do something for you as you seem a genuine person, but our hands are tied by these antiquated laws that prohibit us from releasing the streams across the EU.
However, when they do relax the laws you can be guaranteed that we will be the first ones to shout it everywhere.
If everything goes to plan then TVCatchup will be allowed to open up to the 'EU' by December 19th this year.
We fully understand where you are coming from and we truly wish that we could do something for you as you seem a genuine person, but our hands are tied by these antiquated laws that prohibit us from releasing the streams across the EU.
However, when they do relax the laws you can be guaranteed that we will be the first ones to shout it everywhere.
Oct 9th 2009, 2:16 pm
#2
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Re: Law Changing About Watching British TV in Europe?
I think I read somewhere that the EU was about to issue an edict about TV bot others commented that would not affect the commercial realities - it is a very complicated issue.
Spanish freeview has improved the options for expats with many programs and films offering the original soundtrack and plenty of sport including UK football, F1 etc.Even found Top gear the other day on Sexta.
Spanish freeview has improved the options for expats with many programs and films offering the original soundtrack and plenty of sport including UK football, F1 etc.Even found Top gear the other day on Sexta.
Oct 9th 2009, 4:05 pm
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Re: Law Changing About Watching British TV in Europe?
It does beg the question if these third party broadcasters / websitsay they can legally do this then why cant the actual broadcasters do it?
probably the same reason how the rebroadcasters can think they can retransmit FTA channels without copyright permission.
The new directive mentioned is the old "TV without Frontiers" which has been updated to include VOD and internet TV - and is now the "Audio Visual and Media Directive". It was initially issued in 2007, and countires have 2 years to make it law. Many countries have already adopted it into law, but the December date is the deadline for inclusing into national law.
My understanding is that it really does not change anything, as the same directive still has the rules and laws for "Copyright" / "intellectual property laws" , the main reason why you cannot really watch "TV without Frontiers".
Incidently TVwF was originally dreamt up in 1987, a few years before satellite TV came about, and where cross border viewing was as popular as it is today. Yes it does say that ideally cross EU border TV should be the ideal way forward, but it also recognised that the broadcast contract rights process needs to be looked at first - ie the TV companies would have to buy the rights for programmes for the whole of Europe - which given the way the BBC is funded, why should lisence fee payers fund TV for the rest ouf Europe. as you can see there is a lot more complex issues than just put the channels on a strong signal satellite! the TVwF also tried to harmonisation various aspects of TV - like violence, portrayal of minors, rasism, levels of advertising (which spanish tv companies have been found guilty of breaching many times!), and many more aspects.
The new version of the directive now makes a clear distinction between linear (ie live tv channels with an actual programme lineup) vs nonlinea (ie video on demand), so maybe they think this will allow them to open up to the EU - copyright depending of course!
The New Directive
http://ec.europa.eu/information_soci...lay&doc_id=312
this directive was also recently mentioned in a local "newspaper", which prompted no end of calls and emails..
http://satandpcguy.com/forum/round-t...bull-t383.html
http://www.torrevieja.co.uk/forum/vi...ound+town+news
probably the same reason how the rebroadcasters can think they can retransmit FTA channels without copyright permission.
The new directive mentioned is the old "TV without Frontiers" which has been updated to include VOD and internet TV - and is now the "Audio Visual and Media Directive". It was initially issued in 2007, and countires have 2 years to make it law. Many countries have already adopted it into law, but the December date is the deadline for inclusing into national law.
Under revised European law, content on VOD services including BBC iPlayer, 4OD, ITV Player, SkyPlayer and Demand Five will be regulated from December 19. BBC iPlayer will be jointly regulated by the BBC Trust and Ofcom.
Incidently TVwF was originally dreamt up in 1987, a few years before satellite TV came about, and where cross border viewing was as popular as it is today. Yes it does say that ideally cross EU border TV should be the ideal way forward, but it also recognised that the broadcast contract rights process needs to be looked at first - ie the TV companies would have to buy the rights for programmes for the whole of Europe - which given the way the BBC is funded, why should lisence fee payers fund TV for the rest ouf Europe. as you can see there is a lot more complex issues than just put the channels on a strong signal satellite! the TVwF also tried to harmonisation various aspects of TV - like violence, portrayal of minors, rasism, levels of advertising (which spanish tv companies have been found guilty of breaching many times!), and many more aspects.
The new version of the directive now makes a clear distinction between linear (ie live tv channels with an actual programme lineup) vs nonlinea (ie video on demand), so maybe they think this will allow them to open up to the EU - copyright depending of course!
The New Directive
http://ec.europa.eu/information_soci...lay&doc_id=312
this directive was also recently mentioned in a local "newspaper", which prompted no end of calls and emails..
http://satandpcguy.com/forum/round-t...bull-t383.html
http://www.torrevieja.co.uk/forum/vi...ound+town+news
I agree with Sat and PC"s interpretation of this. Coming from the "dirty" profession of journalism myself, I"m afraid that RTN are "spinning" and haven"t got their facts right. If you take their view as correct, then every satellite Pay TV platform in the EU is dead in the water!!!
Last edited by The Guy; Oct 9th 2009 at 4:36 pm.
