The departure of UK-based channels to playout centres in continental Europe has returned to pre-Brexit levels, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory.
The combination of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) led to the departure of several dozen channels that had previously enjoyed the UK’s regulatory regime and technical capabilities to beam international versions of their services across the channel.
While the UK fell back on the Council of Europe’s European Convention on Transfrontier Television, broadcasters headed principally to Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic to maintain a continuity of service.
According to the Observatory, Luxembourg was first choice for broadcasters relying on satellite up-link or capacity usage to register under the jurisdiction of an AVMSD country.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Viaplay, NBC, Paramount, Antenna, SPI International, versions of Sky and BBC targeting foreign markets and international channels aimed at pan-European audiences in general all made the move.
