Universality, pluralism, innovation - Take Aways

On 15 October, Broadcast Networks Europe organized a webinar on the enduring value and relevance of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), on the occasion of BNE’s tenth anniversary.

The discussion between distinguished speakers and panelists showed that free, reliable, and universal access to audio-visual media has never been so important and that DTT, with its 250 million viewers across Europe, plays a key role in this respect.

Participants to the webinar included European and national policy-makers and representatives from across Europe for broadcasting and audiovisual industries.

A panel discussion

The discussion between Gina Nieri (member of the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Committee, Mediaset S.p.A), Andreas Geiss (Head of Unit for Spectrum Policy, DG CNECT, European Commission), Jérôme Dechesne (President of CEPI – the European Coordination of Independent Producers), Wouter Gekiere, (EBU’s Head of Brussels office – the European Broadcasting Union) and Jonathan Thompson (CEO Digital UK), moderated by Philippe Defraigne (Director, Cullen International) focused on the role DTT plays for the European economy and society and on the current and future role of the DTT platform.

The discussion showed that:

• In the digital age, DTT remains a European success story: It is the backbone of the EU audio-visual model essential for financing and distribution of European high quality content while at the same time securing universality and access to information for hundreds of millions of European citizens.
• Broadcasting has an essential role to play to foster pluralism and promote European diversity and content. Broadcasters face new challenges with social media and internet platforms which are operating under a different set of rules and obligations, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive aims at establishing a level playing field.
• DTT provides great value to society and is constantly innovating to keep the platform attractive, bringing interactivity and access to new content and services.
• DTT clearly demonstrated its resilience and its ability to ensure access to relevant information as well as entertainment for hundreds of millions of Europeans during the spring peak of the COVID-19 crisis.
• The 2017 EC UHF decision gives DTT the long-term certainty that enables investment, innovation and better services for Europeans. Access to spectrum, together with the appropriate rules attached to the use of the spectrum, are needed to continue this path and address challenges of the audio-visual and creative sectors, including deriving from the COVID-19 crisis.

Conclusion

After thanking the speakers and participants, BNE’s Chairman Arnaud Lucaussy, concluded:

“We heard from the panelists that universality, resilience, efficiency, pluralism and diversity are key topics related to DTT. Europe can be proud of what has been achieved in the last ten years. We now have a lot of work for the coming ten years, and we are looking forward to contribute to an ambitious and innovative future for the whole Audio Visual Media Sector.”