On 28 January the EU Council adopted a common position for a Directive on guaranteeing the transparency of national rules on information society services. It is aimed at ensuring that new regulations in this area do not create barriers to free movement in the European single market. The position will now be forwarded to the… Continue reading EU: Council’s Common Position
President Bill Clinton has repeated his call – made last year – for TV broadcasters to give free broadcasting time for political messages. He has written to Bill Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and a Clinton appointee, to say: “I call upon the commission to develop policies as soon as possible which ensure… Continue reading US: Clinton Calls For Free Air Time
The European Parliament has finally approved a Directive aimed at guaranteeing the protection of users of voice telephony and defining the universal service for the telecoms sector. The vote confirmed the agreement reached last month at the end of the conciliation procedure with the Council. This text – which now replaces Directive 95/62/EC on voice… Continue reading EU: Telephony Directive Adopted
The new Data Protection Bill – which is necessary to implement the European Data Protection Directive – has been laid before Parliament. It will replace the Data Protection Act of 1984 over the next three years. The Direct Marketing Association of the UK has already given the new Bill a cautious welcome. One of the… Continue reading UK: Data Protection Bill
Stefano Meloni, chairman of the Franco-Italian food production company Eridania Beghin-Say, has called on the EU rapidly to clarify its policies on the labelling of foods containing genetically modified organisms, in order not to alarm the public. “We believe that we cannot remain in the current grey zone, where each European country will take its… Continue reading EU: Food Company Speaks Out
The authorities in South Africa have proposed to the Codex Committee on Food Labelling of the joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme a set of rules for the definition of ‘sports’ and ‘energy’ drinks. Such an initiative has often, in the past, led on to calls within the same organization, for advertising bans. The 26th Session… Continue reading EU: Sports Drinks Under Spotlight
Barring unforeseen setbacks the formal adoption of the Directive banning tobacco advertising should take place on 12 February during the next EU Research Council meeting in Brussels. Germany (which had voted against the political agreement reach on a common position at the Health Council on 4 December) is behind the slight delay in the formal… Continue reading EU: Directive Adopted This Week
It is rumoured that Emap Radio is currently in exclusive negotiations with Hanson, owner of Melody 105.4FM with a view to buying the London-based radio station.Today’s Financial Times reports that Hanson has effectively sidestepped bids from GWR, Scottish Radio Holdings and Golden Rose Communications (subscribers see Interest Builds In Melody) to discuss a deal exclusively… Continue reading Emap Believed To Be Interested In Melody
Emap Pursuit has closed its Gallop title after 18 months of publication.The equestrian title’s sales were said to have been disappointing for Emap, which had aimed for a circulation of around 50,000.Emap Pursuit: 01733 465212
Monday The House of Lords will be debating an amendment to the Competition Bill, aimed at curbing the power of Rupert Murdoch’s News International newspaper titles. It is understood, however, that the Government is opposed to the motion.Tuesday The Retail Prices Index for January is released at 9:30am.Reuters will be announcing financial results.The MRG will… Continue reading The Week Ahead
