EU agrees streaming quota

Streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon will be forced to help fund more European television series and films after European Union (EU) lawmakers agreed on new regulations for media services.

Petra Kammerevert

In a provisional deal announced yesterday, the European Parliament (EP) introduced rules ordering VoD services to subsidise the creation of European content in EU countries and maintain the 30% quota of European programming in their content libraries.

Last year, the European Commission ruled that 30% of streamers’ content line-ups in Europe must comprise local shows, which was higher than the anticipated 20% benchmark.

Under the new proposals, which will require formal approval by both the whole EP and by EU member states, VoD platforms have been asked to contribute to the development of European audiovisual productions, either through direct investment or via a contribution to national funds. Contribution levels in each country would be proportional to national on-demand revenues.

Netflix has previously railed against content quotas but has been steadily ramping up its European content over the last two years. Last week, it announced 10 European projects at its See What’s Next event in Rome, spearheading an 100-strong list of projects emanating from EMEA as part of its drive to bring more local stories from around the world in 2018.

Additionally, the EP has ordered digital platforms to prohibit any content inciting violence, hatred or terrorism, while programming displaying gratuitous violence and pornography should be strictly regulated.

Although lawmakers suggested these practices should be enforced through co-regulation and self-regulation, video-sharing platforms such as Facebook will be tasked with reacting quickly and efficiently when content is reported or flagged as harmful by users.

In the UK, traditional broadcasters including satcaster Sky and commercial network ITV have consistently expressed their concerns at the “unregulated world of YouTube and Facebook,” with such firms sitting alongside “carefully regulated content and socially responsible services.”

“It can sometimes seem as though policymakers still look to further protect children in the place where they are already safe,” Magnus Brooke, director of policy and regulatory affairs at ITV, said at a Westminster Media Forum late last year.  “Today’s most pressing issues for children are surely online rather than on [kids’ channel] CITV or Britain’s Got Talent.”

The EP has also introduced strict rules on advertising and product placement in children’s TV programmes and content available on video-on-demand platforms, calling on all broadcasters to substantially reduce children’s exposure to publicity for unhealthy food or beverages.

Petra Kammerevert, EP negotiator and MEP from the Social Democratic Party of Germany, said the new VoD laws were a “major breakthrough” in equalising the media landscape following the rise of OTT players.

“The outcome is well balanced, especially with regard to the scope of the directive, including video-sharing platforms and audiovisual content on social media, [creating] a more level playing field for all communication stakeholders, and protection of European works,” she said.

Sabine Verheyen, MEP from the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, said the EP had “made EU regulation fit for the digital era.”

In related news, Netflix has ordered a sci-fi original as well as three comedy projects from frequent collaborator Gabriel Iglesias.

Ten-episode Another Life stars Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) as an astronaut on a mission to explore alien intelligence. Produced by Canuck outfit Halfire Entertainment, the series has been written and created by Aaron Martin (Slasher) and is exec produced by Noreen Halpern (Alias Grace).

The deal with Iglesias includes multi-cam comedy series Mr. Iglesias and two stand-up comedy specials.

Mr Iglesias (10×30’) will feature the Californian comic playing a good-natured high-school teacher who works at his alma mater, while the first of the comedy specials will be taped during Iglesias’s current world tour One Show Fits All. The second will be filmed at a future date.