Media - Freedom of expression and information

Expert Seminar on “The Economic, Technical and other Developments in the Television Sector and their Impact on the European Convention on Transfrontier Television”

Strasbourg, 6 December 2001
Human Rights Building

PROGRAMME

8:30

Registration of participants

9:30

Opening of the seminar
Chairperson: Mr K. JAKUBOWICZ (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Transfrontier Television)

Mr Hanno HARTIG, Head of the Media, Equality and Minorities Department, Council of Europe

9:40

What future for broadcasting in the digital era?
Professor Bernd HOLZNAGEL (Institute for Information, Telecommunications and Media Law (ITM), Münster)
“Broadcasting in the Era of Convergence – Consequences for European Audiovisual Law”
General discussion on whether the existing definitions used in national and European instruments to define broadcasting activity are still valid. Is point to multipoint still a valid definitional criterion? To what extent is the current European regulatory framework for television applicable to new media services? Should the scope of the Convention be extended to broadcasting services on new delivery platforms?

11:00

Coffee break

11:15

What future for broadcasting in the digital era? (cont.)
Mr Tarlach Mc GONAGLE (Institute for Information Law (IviR), University of Amsterdam)
“Does the Existing Regulatory Framework for Television Apply to the New Media?”

Continuation of the general discussion on issues linked to the future of European broadcasting regulation

13:00-14:30

Lunch

14:30

New advertising techniques
Mr Ian BLAIR (Independent Television Commission (ITC), United Kingdom)
“How to Regulate New Advertising Techniques?”
General discussion on whether new forms of advertising should be regulated, and in the affirmative, how. Should the advertising rules in the Convention apply to services on new platforms?

15:45

Coffee break

16:00

Cultural objectives
Mr Yvon THIEC (Delegate General of EUROCINEMA)
"Presence and topicality of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television : pluralism and diversity"
General discussion on whether transmission time quotas of European content are an effective way of attaining the cultural objectives fixed in the Convention. Should such measures be maintained in the future, and if so in their present or changed form? Would it be feasible to apply such quotas to the new media?

17:00

Programme standards and human dignity
Mr Victor SAMPEDRO (Communication and Sociology Department, University of Salamanca)
“New Genres in Commercial Television and Public Opinion”
General discussion on reality shows such as “Big Brother” type programmes and the concerns linked to their possible infringement of human dignity/private life requirements. What measures could/should be taken in regard to such programmes without infringing on freedom of expression?

18:00

Concluding remarks - the future of broadcasting regulation at national and European levels

18:30

Reception

* * *

The standards in the European Convention on Transfrontier Television are widely accepted as being “universal” standards which contribute to quality broadcasting. Since the ongoing economic and technological changes in the television sector may have an impact on these standards, it is felt that the Standing Committee on Transfrontier Television should facilitate an exchange of views between governmental experts, broadcasting regulators and industry professionals on developments taking place in the broadcasting sector. The holding of this expert seminar under the aegis of the Standing Committee should be considered in this context.