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

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

2. The Political Perspective • What do we wantour 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?

3. 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

4. The approaches • Two approaches to develop broadcasting media ecology and content production have been thereduring the modern media age: • to foster privatelyowned and commercially funded media • to secure intended development through societal intervention like creating and developing the publish broadcasting systems we have in Europe

5. Until 1980’s • The European radio and television systems were dominated by public broadcasters until 1980’s. • In Europe the public broadcasting system becamethe main toolto promote local content production.

6. 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.

7. The Economic Value • The economic value of television business in Europe isalmost 75 bio Euros • 26 bio Eurosis funded with advertising income • 18 to 19bio Eurosthrough license fees paid by those having television sets to public broadcasters

8. 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.

9. 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."