The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomes the European Commission’s decision to reject Sanoma Media Finland’s complaint against Yle, affirming that the public broadcaster’s streaming and online learning services comply with its public service mission.
This decision underscores the vital role of public service media (PSM) in adapting to digital platforms while maintaining their core purpose of informing, educating and entertaining audiences, according to EBU.
The EU Commission dismissed the complaint lodged by Sanoma Media, confirming the legality of Yle’s online services. The EBU applauds this decision as it reinforces the principle that PSM content must remain accessible across platforms, anytime and anywhere.
“The European Commission’s decision highlights the importance of the EU principle of technological and platform neutrality for public service media. Public broadcasters must adapt to the digital era while staying true to their mission to inform educate and entertain the entire public, in this example, ensuring that Yle can continue serving Finnish society effectively,” said Alexandre Fall, Senior Competition Counsel, EBU.
Sanoma Media Finland’s 2021 complaint alleged that YLE’s video-on-demand (VOD) and online learning services constituted unlawful state aid. The Commission ruled that these services align with PSM’s missions and do not constitute new aid. This aligns with EU case law and Commission practice, confirming member states’ discretion to define public service media missions in response to societal and technological changes.
Yle offers online services including audiovisual (both linear and on demand), audio, text and multimedia content. These services are crucial to remain relevant in the digital age, especially since on-demand content dominates daily viewing time among internet users aged 18-64, according to EBU.
The Commission’s Broadcasting Communication underscores the special role of public service media in a digital landscape, stating public service media “should be able to use the opportunities offered by digitisation and the diversification of distribution platforms on a technology-neutral basis, to the benefit of society.” This enables public service media to connect with younger audiences where they are most active.
The Yle decision follows a similar case in 2021, when the Commission rejected a complaint against Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT, affirming its online news services as legitimate and existing aid.
