After many months of discussion in the Culture Committee the Whitehead Report on the protection of minors in the information society has finally come before the EP for adoption. The report describes the rapid expansion in electronic methods of production and dissemination of information, and raises issues concerning the protection of minors and human dignity.… Continue reading EU: Protection for minors
The ITC received 39 applications for restricted services licences (RSLs) by the deadline of 5pm on 30 April. This is the second licensing round for RSLs, which provide location-based restricted TV services in various parts of the UK (see Applications Invited For Restricted Service Licences).The ITC will now evaluate whether the applications are valid and… Continue reading ITC Receives 39 Applications For RSLs
This week the European Parliament (EP) is due to vote (in its May Plenary Session meeting in Strasbourg) on the Council Common Position banning tobacco advertising in the EU. Christian Cabrol (F, UFE), the Rapporteur, is expected to recommend approval without amendment, despite the claim by the EP’s Legal Affairs Committee that the legal basis… Continue reading EU: Parliament votes on Directive
The Radio Authority is inviting comments from the public and interested parties on the subject of Xfm ‘s proposed takeover by Capital Radio (see Capital’s Xfm Move Dependent On Watchdogs).A public interest test, which assesses if a takeover would be expected to operate against the public’s interest, is automatically invoked when a company proposes to… Continue reading RA Invites Comments On Xfm Takeover
According to the MEP Mark Hendrick (UK, SOC) – author of a report on vetting procedures for the creation of rules covering the information society – regulating the Information Society is mainly the responsibility of the MS. However, the Commission believes that this poses a real risk to the development of information services in the… Continue reading EU: Information society rules
Trade and industry secretary Margaret Beckett yesterday made moves to prevent a potential rebellion over the extent of restrictions to predatory pricing. She claimed that the new Competition Bill will tighten the law against predatory pricing and will introduce European jurisprudence in the form of Clause 60.The Bill promises that any companies which find themselves… Continue reading Beckett Reassures Of Tighter Restrictions To Predatory Pricing
Admissions to the cinema in the UK in the first three months of 1998 are the highest for 26 years according to the Cinema Advertising Association. Between January-March 41.26 million people visited the cinema, a 22.6 per cent increase over the same period the year before.
The Radio Authority has announced that the acquisition of Melody FM by EMAP Plc could not be expected to operate against the public interest.The RA did say, however, that the main concern expressed to it over the EMAP move was the possibility that changes to Melody’s programming content and style would reduce the level of… Continue reading EMAP Acquisition Of Melody Unopposed By RA
The ICC secretariat has circulated a discussion note on the future of its International Council on Marketing Practice (ICMP), and requests comments from ICC national committees by 8 June 1998. Set up 20 years ago, the ICMP has rarely been used, and the aim is to stimulate a discussion about whether and how to make… Continue reading EU: ICC considers marketing control body
Commercial radio audiences in the UK have expanded in the past year. According to the Radio Advertising Bureau, commercial radio’s audience share has grown to 50.1 per cent of the total market.
