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The Wider Spectrum Group met with Andrus Ansip, the European Commission Vice President for the Digital Single Market, to urge support for creative producers and distributors of European cultural content in upcoming EU legislation on the UHF frequencies. 

During the open, frank and very constructive exchange with Vice President Ansip, the Group emphasised that European content creation and distribution, along with associated jobs are at risk without a fair and sustainable transition plan, coherent with the introduction of technologies for an improved TV experience. The current legislative proposal of the Commission lacks enough certainty to enable the sector to plan and invest in European content and its distribution in the medium and long term. However this certainty is a prerequisite for the sustainable development of the sector.

The group urged the Vice President to improve the proposal for EU legislation on the UHF frequencies in order to ensure a careful transitional roadmap in UHF spectrum with adequate funding available to recognize the considerable additional investment that the transition will entail for the creative sector and for European citizens. This will allow enhanced European digital content in synch with European digital infrastructure.

The Wider Spectrum Group brings together associations of media companies and viewers & listeners as well as trade unions in the media and entertainment represented by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and UNI MEI Global Union. For the unions the question of spectrum allocation is not a technical issue or an efficiency question to start with. The issue of frequencies is foremost a cultural issue, which requires a balanced regulatory approach to ensure access to affordable, universal, diverse and quality programming for citizens in EU member states. A balanced regulatory approach means coexistence not convergence among TV, radio, life performance and other live events and mobile networks.

The Wider Spectrum Group advocates cherishing Europe’s unique audiovisual model, which is driven by cultural diversity and which sustains its creative and cultural sector’s economy and jobs. It is a huge asset for Europe’s competitive position in the digital world, cultural diversity and media pluralism.

The cultural, creative and media industries are an essential pillar of the digital economy and one of the key assets of Europe Digital Single Market Strategy, in every dimension:

• Accounting for 6.8% share of GDP (€860 billion) and 6.5% of Europe’s employment (approximately 14 million direct and indirect jobs);
• Combining the forces of flagship European-based companies competing in a global market alongside more than 1.4 million small and medium sized enterprises (who generate over 80% of the total revenue for the sector);
• Employing a highly skilled, non off-shorable and well-educated workforce that is deeply rooted within local territories, economies and cultures;
• Creating and investing in digital platforms in technological innovations;
• Europe's digital market for cultural products and services are providing more and more choice to consumers. 

To learn more about the shared vision of media companies, viewers & listeners and trade unions for a building an industrial strategy for creative and cultural industries based on growth, innovation and jobs download our joint statement under the menu “related files”