The European Commission has written to 16 member states seeking information about their implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive. The fact-finding letters are part of the Commission’s efforts to ensure that the national media laws of all the Member States correctly implement all aspects of the directive.
Currently the Commission is in the process of analysing the measures notified by the rest of the member states, following which a second round of letters may be sent during the second quarter of 2011. The Commission is seeking clarification on “a wide variety of issues” concerning the law’s implementation.
An EU directive demands states’ audio-visual output meets bloc-wide standards for everything from the “prohibition of incitement to hatred” to advertising rules or which ‘crown jewel’ sports events must be available on free-to-air channels.
The 16 countries include major markets such as the UK, France and Italy.