Audiovisual Media Services Directive

Introduction date

Consultation closed 31 Oct 2008

Summary

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has consulted on proposals for implementing the Audiovisual Media Services Directive in the UK.

The Directive revises and updates the existing Television Without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive, which was adopted in 1989, and the consultation sought views on proposals in relation to four specific issues:

• extension of the scope of regulation to video-on-demand services;
• introduction of a system for regulating the programme and advertising content of video-on-demand services;
• formal prohibition of product placement in television and video-on-demand programming, subject to certain possible exemptions; and
• controls over the content of satellite television broadcasts from outside the EU.

The Directive came into force on 19 Dec 2007, and must be implemented in member states by 19 Dec 2009.