On 10 November in Luxembourg the EC will bring together representatives from the drinks industry, lobby groups and MS officials to debate the issues involved in alcohol abuse, with particular emphasis on the development of alcopops. While the media has made much of the supposed alcohol abuse caused among minors by alcopops, there are growing… Continue reading EU: Alcopops In The Spotlight
America Online, the Internet service provider, has bought the rival CompuServe for around $1.2 billion. The move, which will create a huge power in Internet access provision, is likely to be investigated by industry regulators both in Europe and the US.AOL, which is strongest in America, has around 9 million subscribers while the more European-centred… Continue reading AOL Snaps Up Compuserve
The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) has prepared draft revisions for the 8th edition of its code of practice. For copies of the revisions contact ICSTIS Telephone (44 171) 240 5511, fax (44 171) 379 4611. Comments must be received by 10 October 1997.
The EP Committee on Women’s Rights has adopted reports by MEPs Ms Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens (referring to the EC’s 1996 annual report on equal opportunities) and Ms Marlene Lenz (on discrimination against women in advertising). In the first report the committee criticised the annual report for being insufficiently analytical, called on the EC to take initiatives… Continue reading EU: EP Adopts Reports On Discrimination
Following its Green Paper on the Protection of Minors and Human Dignity in Audiovisual and Information Services and the first conclusions presented in a European Commission staff working paper, the Commission services are currently drafting a Communication and draft proposal for a Council Recommendation on this subject. Partly to this end, the EC has opened… Continue reading EU: New Internet Discussion Forum
Channel 4 has announced its Autumn line-up, which features three major drama series – A Dance to the Music of Time, Bombay Blue and Underworld – together with new comedy and documentary series. Robbie Coltrane also stars in a factual series indulging his secret passion for engines in Coltrane’s Planes and Automobiles. The season’s budget… Continue reading C4 Launches Autumn Schedule
Home Counties Newspapers, the regional newspaper publisher, has released interim financial results which show that pre-tax profits have risen three-fold to £1.7 million. Turnover was up slightly to £18.9m.HCN: 01727 811 911
The Independent Television Commission (ITC)has approved changes to its Rules on Advertising Breaks that will enable cable, satellite and new digital channels to carry additional teleshopping advertising and open the way to the licensing of self-promotional channels. The changes, which have immediate effect, reflect some of the provisions of the revised EU TWF Directive.
The Council and the European Parliament have published the revised Television Without Frontiers Directive (OJ/L202/97). It entered into force on 30 July and must be implemented by the Member States by 30 December 1998. A contact committee will be set up to examine the implementation of the Directive and the developments in the sector.
The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament has appointed Mr John Stevens (UK, EPP) as its Draftsman for a report on Electronic Commerce in the EU. First discussions on this report are expected to take place during the Committee’s meetings in October with the finished opinion being brought before the full Parliament… Continue reading EU: EP Considers Electronic Commerce
