The European audiovisual industry is one of the most dynamic markets in
the European Union. The Audiovisual Media Services Directive is the
bedrock of the EU's audiovisual and media policies. It regulates diverse
aspects for providers of television broadcasting and on-demand services
and entered into force in December 2007. Due to the volatility of a
market facing convergence of media and important policy choices, for
instance whether to allow product placement, Member States have
struggled with the transposition of this Directive.
This completely new commentary employs an innovative approach: Based on
English translations, the study systematically examines the national
implementing measures of the future 28 Member States (including
Croatia). It sets out, article-by-article, the original provisions
contained in the Directive before analysing domestic transpositions.
National measures are grouped in order to reveal similarities and
differences and examined for compliance with the Directive. This
comparative perspective contributes to the discussions on reforms of the
Directive or the EU's approach to new media services.