Ian Brotherston, chief executive, TVT, offers his thoughts
Author:
ContributorPublish date:
Jun 29, 2018
Following UK Prime Minister Theresa May's speech in March, which formally set out the country's vision for Brexit, the broadcast industry found itself firmly on the agenda for talks between the UK and European Union (EU) 27, with much debate around topics such as Country of Origin'. But a number of major broadcasters have since decided not to wait around to see what happens.
At the end of May, it was reported that Discovery is the latest international broadcaster to consider moving its European broadcasting base from London to another hub in Europe if the UK government fails to agree a broadcast licence deal with the EU. The report follows earlier news that Viacom International Media Networks, 21st Century Fox and Viceland have all announced their decision to start moving broadcast licences from the UK, as part of a pre-emptive measure to counter the uncertainty of the Brexit process.
As anyone working in the industry knows, the UK is in many ways Europe's broadcasting powerhouse. It currently provides the main European base for eight of the top 10 global players operating in the EU. How this role is handled in Brexit negotiations will have a critical impact on the future shape the sector takes in both the UK and the EU.
May's March speech touched on the Country of Origin' (CoO) principle in the EU, which allows a broadcaster or on-demand service provider to be licensed in any member nation for operation across the whole of the EU. This rule has played a significant role in the UK's development into Europe's major media centre.
To further complicate matters, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive could be subject to change too. Following discussions last week between the European Commission, Council and Parliament, proposed changes to the regulations will mean that at least 30 per cent of content programmes of TV channels, video-on-demand and video sharing platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, or Facebook will have to be European. A formal vote will be taken on this proposal in September 2018.
There is no doubt that the UK currently plays a pivotal role in EU broadcast. In fact, roughly half of linear channels licensed for satellite, cable and digital terrestrial television in the UK are not actually intended for broadcast to local viewers but target other EU populations under CoO rules. Independent research commissioned by TVT last year shows that close to 12 per cent of all channels broadcast in the EU are based in the UK. Every EU country has channels ranging from six to 77 that are licensed by Ofcom, the UK regulator, and broadcast in their local market.
What's more, TVT research showed that the UK is the main over-the-top (OTT) TV hub for the EU, with 226 OTT platforms, 82 of which carry video-on-demand services targeted at viewers elsewhere in Europe. These OTT exports' far exceed those of the Netherlands, the other significant EU OTT hub with 51 platforms 18 of which are targeted beyond its borders.
What happens with CoO after Brexit will have a major impact on the future of broadcast throughout Europe. While the UK Prime Minister has already made clear that she sees a need to explore creative options in this area of negotiations, what is beyond dispute is that it is critical broadcasters and the ecosystem of service and technology providers supporting them have some idea of where these discussions will lead as soon as possible.
It appears these assurances have not done enough to allay concerns across the industry, particularly now that Discovery, Viacom, 21st Century Fox and Viceland have taken measures to protect their interests by preparing to move elements of their business from the UK. They may not be the last. According to the story in TVB Europe, other content owners with bases in the UK are expected to follow suit, including Disney, the Modern Times Group and Turner Broadcasting.
Whether you're for or against Brexit is at this point immaterial. What we need as an industry soon keeping in mind the clock is ticking on Brexit and March 2019 is the date the separation is due to begin is some clarity how the transition will affect the way broadcasters operate in the UK and the rest of Europe.
Past experience teaches us that any major shift in this business takes at least 18 months, so regardless of the eventual outcome, media and entertainment companies need to devise strategies that prepare them for a post-Brexit world now.
As with every other industry looking at major potential change as a result of the UK leaving the EU, the broadcast sector wants and needs to know how Brexit will impact their future. There are, however, no easy answers. We can only speculate where this is all going.
But broadcasters and content owners with international ambitions still have an opportunity to start preparing for the future of their TV services, particularly in key areas such as versioning, compliance and playout exploring what the possibilities and requirements are and what options exist with respect to services and providers.
Before the Brexit process moves into its closing stages and an end game is established, the challenge will be to find strategic approaches that enable industry players of all types to continue to thrive while planning for a whole range of business scenarios, regardless of what the eventual outcome of Brexit negotiations might look like.
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
08/05/2024
zweiB updates to latest version of R&S CLIPSTER Specialist in deliverables for cinema, events and trade shows
Rohde & Schwarz, a global leader in broadcast...
07/05/2024
NAB Show 2024
Utah Scientific rocked the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas, unveiling two new game-changers in video signal management.
Our primary focus this yea...
07/05/2024
7th May 2024 The nations favourite comedy channel Gold has teamed up with the ma...
07/05/2024
There's something special about summer. We're not sure whether it's the warmer weather, the longer days, or something else a bit more magical, but s...
07/05/2024
NITV appoints Michael Rennie as Presenter and Senior Producer for NITV News
Media releases
NITV has announced the appointment of Michael Rennie as Presenter...
07/05/2024
The ability for line-of-site tactical voice and data networks to seamlessly traverse over Satellite Communications is an emerging requirement to assure warfight...
07/05/2024
On April 5, 2024, the L3Harris Avionics Products Repair Station (NN2R037L) in Gr...
07/05/2024
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
07/05/2024
Share this article
width=32 height=32 loading=lazy data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/themes/juniper-theme/src/img/icons/facebook-purple.svg />
wid...
07/05/2024
BURBANK, Calif. The Walt Disney Company has finally delivered some from profits from its hefty streaming investments, with the second quarter of its fiscal year...
07/05/2024
Bonnie Hammer, vice chair of NBCUniversal, and Jen Psaki, MSNBC host, read from their new books at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan Wednesday, May 8. Hammer's...
07/05/2024
Paramount Plus has ordered the series Crutch, a comedy that is a spinoff of CBS comedy The Neighborhood. Tracy Morgan stars....
07/05/2024
Edward J. and Melody Thomas Scott and Lidia Bastianich will receive Lifetime Achievement honors at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards in June, the National Aca...
07/05/2024
The 2024 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony happens in New York November 12, and the honorees are Al Roker, weather and featu...
07/05/2024
Dabl Network has added The Wayans Bros., The Jamie Foxx Show, Living Single and Everybody Hates Chris to its weekday and weekend lineups. Those shows join the l...
07/05/2024
After winning a proxy fight, The Walt Disney Co. said its entertainment business turned a profit and added subscribers in its fiscal second quarter....
07/05/2024
NBA Entertainment is closing out the second season of its series Pass the Rock with a look at Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, the league's rooki...
07/05/2024
Syncbak, which provides stations with streaming capabilities, said it is rebranding as Zeam Media....
07/05/2024
Samsung has made a deal with Magnolia Pictures that will bring titles from Magnolia to the Samsung TV Plus free streaming platform....
07/05/2024
Amazon, which has added commercials to Amazon Prime Video, is rolling out new interactive ad formats that will enable advertisers to engage streamers and sell s...
07/05/2024
Syncbak, a 15 year-old provider of streaming tech for local broadcast stations has rebranded itself, adopting the name of its streaming service launched in Febr...
07/05/2024
POST Luxembourgs journey with TAG Video underscores how finding a vendor who und...
07/05/2024
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. New findings from Hub Entertainment Research provides extensive data showing that the majority of consumers will opt for lower cost ad-supporte...
07/05/2024
NEW YORK The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has announced th...
07/05/2024
CBS News has named Lindsey Reiser an anchor and correspondent for CBS News 24/7, the network's live, streaming news service. Reiser, who was most recently a...
07/05/2024
NEEDHAM, Mass. After more than two years of decline, worldwide tablet shipments posted modest year-over-year growth of 0.5% in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24),...
07/05/2024
ESPN is reporting that April was a record-setting month as the network delivered its best April prime time audience on record, dating back more than 30 years....
07/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that Kirsten Donaldson has joined NAB as vice president of public policy. Donaldso...
07/05/2024
The Bulls are back home again this week from May 7-12! Don't miss out on any...
07/05/2024
SVG Sit-Down: AWS's Julie Souza on the Cloud and AI in Broadcast-Content Cre...
07/05/2024
Deloitte Analysts Peter Giorgio and Michael Vovk: Sports Properties Need To Reth...
07/05/2024
University of Texas' Jeff Hanel to Keynote 16th-Annual SVG College Summit Industry vet to discuss uniting live and creative in athletic department media arm...
07/05/2024
Premier League trials RefCam during Crystal Palace v Manchester United fixture By George Bevir
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - 09:34
Print This Story
In a Premier ...
07/05/2024
CBS Sports Previews PGA Championship Plans; 125+ Cameras Include FlyCams, Bunker...
07/05/2024
Rohde & Schwarz brings cutting-edge solutions to TECNOSEC and DRONExpo 2024 Rohde & Schwarz will showcase its innovative portfolio at TECNOSEC and DRONExpo 20...
07/05/2024
Back to All News
Five New Games Join Netflix in May
Netflix Staff
Entertainment
07 May 2024
Global
Link copied to clipboard
Five new games are launching ...
07/05/2024
Back to All News
Top 10 Week of Apr. 29: Baby Reindeer' Holds Strong; Hee...
07/05/2024
Home News & Press Blancco Wins 2024 SEAL Business Sustainability Award
Blancco Wins 2024 SEAL Business Sustainability Award May 07, 2024
Blancco's v...
07/05/2024
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today unveiled the all-new Logic Pro for iPad 2 and Logic Pro for Mac 11, delivering breakthrough professional experiences for songw...
07/05/2024
Apple's new Privacy Manifest requirement mandates that apps explicitly disclose the privacy-related data they collect, the purposes for this collection, and...
07/05/2024
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour arrives to shake up EuropeHaving shaken four continents, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour finally brings the biggest pop culture icon o...
07/05/2024
Isiphetho: Destiny' beats Scandal!'E.tv's latest telenovela Isiphetho: Destiny' beat the channel's longest running soapie, Scandal!' ...
07/05/2024
Now there's HELP for ex-prisoners to find work in South AfricaNew initiative for ex-prisoners to find work in South Africa proves it's never too late fo...
07/05/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Cohen is pulled into keeping a secretDon't miss Tuesday, 7 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! on e.tv on DStv c...
07/05/2024
Skeem Saam: Monday's episode, 6 May 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soapie...
06/05/2024
By Ilyse McKimmie
Now, more than ever
That's a phrase so often used in the last few years that I've come to dread seeing it in notes like this one. A...
06/05/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12099 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Blog-Exabyte-Storage-Demand-960x540-1.jpg/> Demand for storage solutions has reached unprece...
Ian Brotherston, chief executive, TVT, offers his thoughts
