EC

Telekom ‘surprised’ by EC objections to Tele2 merger

Deutsche Telekom has expressed surprise after the European Commission addressed a statement of objections to its proposed Dutch merger with Tele2 as part of its ongoing in-depth investigation into the deal. In its preliminary analysis the Commission raised competition concerns about the effect of the merger on the mobile retail market, notably in the residential […]

European Parliament approves controversial copyright reform

The European Parliament has approved controversial copyright reform proposals that will see web companies forced to pay for the work of artists and journalists that appears on their sites. The reform, which will give film and TV writers the opportunity to secure more income from internet companies, has been welcomed by groups representing artists and […]

Ansip: Euro-Parliament should move to EC position on copyright reform

The key element of the European Commission’s proposals for copyright reform “was on the right track the first time round” and the European Parliament, which rejected plans to take the reform forward earlier this month, should “move closer to [the EC’s] initial proposal for its September vote” on the issue, according to EC VP Andrus […]

European Parliament committee approves revised audiovisual directive

The European Parliament’s culture and education committee has approved a ‘trilogue’ political agreement on revision of the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The committee’s endorsement of the proposals opens the way for a plenary vote in the parliament later this year. European parliamentary negotiators led by MEP Sabine Verheyen and the Bulgarian presidency of the […]

Public and commercial broadcasters divided over revised audiovisual directive

Public and commercial broadcasters are divided over the merits of the final political agreement on the EU’s revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive, with public broadcaster organization the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcoming the result of the final review and commercial broadcaster group the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT) slamming it as “a missed […]

EC confirms approval of Liberty Global Ziggo acquisition

The European Commission has confirmed its approval of Liberty Global’s acquisition of Dutch cable operator Ziggo in the Netherlands. The EC’s move follows annulment of its earlier approval of the 2014 acquisition by the EU General Court last year. The EC originally approved the merger of UPC Netherlands and Ziggo subject to the condition that […]

EU bodies agree 30% European quota on Netflix-type services

The European Parliament, European Council and the European Commission have struck a preliminary deal on revisions to the audiovisual media services directive that will see new quotas imposed on subscription video-on-demand services. The new rules will include an obligation on OTT TV services, promoted by the Parliament, to respect a quota of 30% for European […]

Altice to appeal EC ‘gun-jumping’ fine on Portuguese acquisition

Altice has said it will appeal a decision by the European Commission to fine it €124.5 million for ‘gun jumping’ the regulatory green light to acquire PT Telecom in Portugal in June 2015. The EC ruled that Altice infringed the ‘prior notification obligation’ relating to mergers and acquisitions. The Commission said that Altice had made […]

New EU rules on content portability set to come into force

New rules on content portability across the European Union will come into force on April 1, enabling users of online audiovisual services to view content while outside their home country within the EU. The new rules will apply only to pay service, although providers of free-to-view services may opt in. Providers of online content services […]

EU group calls for concrete steps to tackle fake news

An EU High-Level Experts Group has called for a new code of principles that online platforms should submit to in order to combat the phenomenon of ‘fake news’ and disinformation. The group’s report, which was presented by chairwoman Madeleine de Cock Buning to European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, calls for the code to embrace 10 key […]

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