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The Czech Parliament recently adopted a law regulating audiovisual media services. This implementation of the European Directive on Audiovisual Media Services in the Czech Republic took place by means of a new Law on Audiovisual Media Services on Demand and substantial amendments to the Law on Radio and Television Broadcasting. The general objective of the regulation of audiovisual media services on demand is primarily to establish non-discriminatory access to all providers of audiovisual media services (i.e., broadcasters and providers of audiovisual media services on demand) and the protection...

On 19 April 2010 the Ministers responsible for the Telecommunications and Information Society of the EU member states and the European Economic Area adopted, under the Spanish Presidency, the Granada Declaration on the Digital Agenda. The Declaration notes that the EU2020 Strategy calls for the EU to find a fast and effective road to recovery following the recent economic downturn. Given that the ICT sector is a crucial driver of growth and jobs in the EU economy, Europe could put itself back on the fast track to growth by raising its global competitiveness in the digital economy. To this end,...

On 16 December 2009 the Government adopted the “Concept of Media Education in the Slovak Republic in the Context of Lifelong Learning” (hereinafter referred to as “Concept”). This Concept has been elaborated according to the Government Programme. The requirement to create conditions for the realisation of media education results from various EU documents that underline the importance of information technology. According to Council Directive 89/552/EEC (transposed into Slovak law by Act No. 498/2009 Coll., see IRIS 2009-9: 18) the member states are obliged to submit to the European Commission a...

On 15 December 2009 the latest amendment (No. 498/2009 Coll.) of the Act No. 308/2000 Coll. on Broadcasting and Retransmission (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) came into effect. This amendment transposes the Directive 2007/65/EC (hereinafter referred to as “the Directive”) into the Slovak legal system. Several important changes have been brought about by this transposition. The scope of regulation of the Act has become broader according to the Directive criteria. The present legal regulation is based on technological neutrality and covers audiovisual media services regardless of the technology...

The Association for Television On-Demand (ATVOD) is now been formally “designated” as the co-regulator for UK Video on Demand (VOD) services. Formerly, it was an industry association. ATVOD has been restructured, “to ensure independence from the industry’s commercial interests and to make sure that protection of the public is its top priority.” It will have a board comprising five independent members and four industry members, from BSkyB, BT, Virgin Media and Five, to provide a “general industry perspective”. Regulation of these services is a requirement of the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive...