A report on a Community action plan to promote the safe use of the internet has been adopted by the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs in the European Parliament. The Committee’s report asks for rules to be established at an EU level to ensure that the internet is used safely. Following the Council’s… Continue reading EU: EP on safe use of internet
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), which has over 200 members, has welcomed the ITC’s decision to allow ITV to move the News At Ten (see ITC Agrees To News At Ten Move) after a lengthy campaign in support of the schedule changes. The Institute says that it has warned of further TV cost… Continue reading Advertisers Welcome News At Ten Move
The UK Government has referred BskyB’s bid for Manchester United Football Club to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. This followed comments by EC Commissioner Karl Van Miert, responsible for EU competition issues, who told journalists in Brussels that the bid appeared to pose competition problems. He added that the Commission’s services will be following developments… Continue reading UK: BskyB bid referred
The European Commission has announced that the parties to the British Interactive Broadcasting joint venture (BiB) have made a number of concessions to meet the competition concerns put to them by the Commission’s services. In a notice published in the Official Journal, the Commission has set out the details of the agreement, and has given… Continue reading EU: UK Digital TV
The launch of digital TV has helped Pace Micro Technology buck the stock market trend and promise higher than forecast profits.Pace, which makes set-top boxes for both terrestrial and satellite digital TV services, said its pre-tax profits for the six months to October would exceed the £7 million predicted by market analysts.The positive trading statement… Continue reading Digital TV Boosts Profit Pace At Set-Top Box Maker
Carlton Communications has this afternoon announced that its discussions with Arsenal Football Club, with a view to a takeover, have been terminated. It was thought that talks were at an advanced stage although no financial consideration had been mentioned (see Arsenal and Carlton Update).It is understood that Arsenal is in talks with United News &… Continue reading Carlton Calls Off Arsenal Takeover Talks
The EC is expected to decide whether it will adopt guidelines for the evaluation of state aid to public television channels in the EU before the end of this year. However, in the face of strong opposition from MS, the Commission’s DGXV is to consult private sector broadcasters on current proposals. Following a number of… Continue reading EU: EC Guidelines For Public TV Financing
The Consumer Council meeting in Brussels last week adopted a resolution which recognises consumer concern over the development of the information society, and has called on the EC to ensure that consumers’ interests are fully taken into account in all current and future legislative proposals. Notably the Council drew attention to the need for measures… Continue reading EU: Country of origin in e-commerce
Jim Murray, director of the consumer group BEUC, has criticised the EC’s e-commerce proposals. Mr Murray said that consumers should not have to deal with the individual laws of the 15 member states. He added that it was absurd to treat on-line consumers in the same way as consumers who go to the supplier’s country… Continue reading EU: BEUC criticises e-commerce proposals
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is to launch a campaign to protect terrestrial television coverage of the World Cup football finals. FIFA, the world football governing body, has declared that the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea should appear on terrestrial television, but the EBU fears that in many countries some of the games… Continue reading EU: Plans for World Cup 2002
