Foreign audiovisual services such as Netflix, HBO and YouTube face the prospect of having to allocate 1.5% of their income in Spain to help fund the public broadcaster RTVE.
El Economista reports that the requirement is contained in the new version of the Draft General Law on Audiovisual Communication, which has been modified and open to a second public hearing until July 12.
It adds that the most relevant change is in the RTVE Financing Law, which establishes that RTVE is funded by contributions from all services present in the audiovisual market competing for the same audience.
The broadcaster already receives some of its funding from VOD services, video exchange platforms, FTA and pay-TV services and the draft law aims to establish a level playing field.
It is also envisioned that RTVE will be able to secure new sources of income such as sponsorship and advertising on its international channels and digital content, as well as the insertion of commercials in its channels in video exchange platforms.
Significantly, telco operators will no longer have to make a direct contribution to RTVE’s funding, though they will still do so indirectly by paying €480 million a year for use of the radio spectrum.
