PRESS RELEASE

NEW “TV WITHOUT FRONTIERS” DIRECTIVE” AER WELCOMES EXCLUSION OF RADIO FROM ITS SCOPE

Commercial and privately-funded radio broadcasters across Europe welcome the exclusion of radio services from the scope of the draft Directive on Audiovisual Media Services adopted on December 13th by the European Commission.

“The Commission took the right decision in excluding radio from the scope of this Directive” says Christer Jungeryd, AER President. “In spite of technological developments, the reality today is that radio continues to be highly regulated at national level and broadcasting principally directed to national, regional and local audiences. There are little or no Internal Market implications. “TVWF-like” regulation is not necessary and would provide no addedvalue to the industry”.

AER agrees with the European Commission that the radio landscape will change dramatically in the next decade but that the effects of today’s and tomorrow’s digital developments are anything but clear. The migration to digital for radio is highly complex - possibly even more than for TV - and it is a matter for national authorities to provide the appropriate regulatory frameworks and incentives for a smooth transition to take place.

In plans to build an Information Society for All, AER calls on Commissioner Viviane Reding to remain attentive to RADIO in particular with regard to its spectrum needs in the framework of digital migration. We urge her to help ensure that RADIO - as a loved and trusted audiovisual mass medium - remains a visible, audible and vibrant part of the Europe’s audiovisual landscape.

ENDS
15/12/2005

The Association of European Radios (AER) brings together 12 national associations from 10 EU countries and Switzerland. Its combined membership represents over 4,500 private and commercial radio stations across Europe with millions of listeners every day. AER was set up in 1992 to represent the interests of European private and commercial radios to the institutions of the EU and serves as a platform for exchange of information and technical assistance.

NOTE TO EDITORS: AER Brussels. Telephone: +32 2 736 91 31 Fax: +32 2 732 89 90 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  The AER website gives full details of AER membership at www.aereurope.org