Arne Wessberg EUs strategies for local content development

Arne Wessberg EU’s strategies for local content development in the convergence world - also Finland’s experience

The Political Perspective What do we want our media systems to do and to be on European level and on national level? ¡ What are the objectives? ¡ What are the instruments to achieve the objectives? ¡

The Big Issues ¡ Our modern media age began with radio broadcasting almost hundred years ago - the big issues still remain when we are moving into a convergence world

The approaches ¡ Two approaches to develop broadcasting media ecology and content production have been there during the modern media age: l l to foster privately owned and commercially funded media to secure intended development through societal intervention like creating and developing the publish broadcasting systems we have in Europe

Until 1980’s The European radio and television systems were dominated by public broadcasters until 1980’s. ¡ In Europe the public broadcasting system became the main tool to promote local content production. ¡

Since 1980’s the expansion of broadcasting has been dominated by commercially funded operators ¡ a dual system with commercially funded and public broadcasters developed in Europe. ¡

The Economic Value The economic value of television business in Europe is almost 75 bio Euros ¡ 26 bio Euros is funded with advertising income ¡ 18 to 19 bio Euros through license fees paid by those having television sets to public broadcasters ¡

Content Production in EU ¡ ¡ Broadcasting and media content production are national issues even in European Union. But European Union tries to foster European identity with initiatives like the Television Directive, Television Without Frontiers -programs; these programs aim to foster transnational programs production.

The Story of Digitalization The transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting opens up possibilities both for commercially funded channels and public broadcasts trough more efficient use of spectrum ¡ Finland has shut down the analogue terrestrial television network. " ¡