Geo-blocking

EBU gives thumbs-up to EC plan to enable content portability

European public broadcaster organisation the EBU has expressed approval of the EC’s proposed changes to allow audiovisual services to be made available across borders within the Single Market. The pubcaster body said that regulations had to be updated to allow content to be made available across borders on the internet and said that the EC’s […]

Sky hoping for “sensible outcome” to EC geo-blocking probe

Sky is “open-minded” about the outcome of the European Commission’s investigation into geo-blocking requirements in its contracts with major Hollywood studios and is hopeful that “a sensible outcome” will prevail, according to chief financial officer Andrew Griffith. Griffith, answering a question from Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Swinburne after the company announced stellar full-year results at […]

EC lays down gauntlet to Hollywood majors and Sky on geo-blocking

The European Commission is investigating Sky and six Hollywood majors – Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros – for agreeing content rights deals on a geographically restricted basis in the EU. The EC has sent a statement of objections to the parties alleging that they have put in place contractual […]

EC backs net neutrality, removal of geo-blocking

New European Commission vice-president Andrus Ansip has backed “solid” and “clearly defined” net neutrality and called for geo-blocking restrictions in Europe to be scrapped. In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg Ansip – who is one of three European commissioners who has taken over from recently retired digital policy chief Neelie Kroes – […]