Vol. 475 No. 3
32 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, he has to regulate the situation that is likely to arise due the number of television channels which will be available to Irish viewers at the turn of the century; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4677/97]
Media speculation on this topic talks about an environment where up to 500 channels might be available across Europe in the near future for those willing to pay for them.
Given the trans-national nature of these services they will have to be regulated internationally. The regulatory framework for television across Europe is the EU television without frontiers directive, the primary objective of which is to ensure the free flow of television services across the national boundaries of the member states. The European Commission came forward with proposals to revise the 1989 directive because the number of television channels across Europe had increased from 92 in 1990 to approximately 129 in 1993. The revision of the directive proposes to cover new developments in the industry such as telly shopping and it also attempts to clarify the legal situation with regard to jurisdiction over cross-border broadcasting, especially where the protection of minors is concerned and it proposes new regulations on advertising.
