In its key response to the European Commission the UK government has largely opposed the extension of ‘TV-type’ regulation to the whole sector of ‘audio-visual content services’. Using arguments rehearsed on its behalf by commercial stakeholders before and during the Liverpool Conference, the government argues that the proposed definitions of ‘linear’ and ‘non-linear’ services and of ‘audio-visual content services’ are unclear, would place some industries such as publishing in jeaopardy of double regulation, and would impose unnecessary regulatory burdens on the emerging ‘convergence’ services. The government believes that, for now at least, there is justification for continuing to separate traditional broadcasting (and its related online services) from online-only AV services, with special regulation for the content of the former, and no such regulation for the latter — based on distinctions that relate to impact, reach, control and the expectations of viewers.

The UK papers were sent to me as a ’stakeholder’ — I will try to find out whether they have been published online.

Don Redding, Public Voice