Infso-2008-00093-00-02-en-rev-01

Portugal

Of the 24 channels identified, one channel was non-operational during the reference period. 10 channels were exceptionally exempted.

European works

All of the reported channels broadcast an average of 66.15% in 2005 and 68.62% in 2006. This represents an average 2.47 percentage point increase during the reference period and an increase of 4.06 points over four years (2003-2006).

For 2005, of the total number of 13 covered channels, nine achieved the majority proportion specified in Article 4, while four channels did not meet this requirement. The compliance rate, in terms of number of channels, was 69%.

In 2006, of the 13 channels covered by Article 4 of the Directive, 10 channels met the target, whereas three channels failed to do so. The compliance rate was thus 77%.

The Portuguese authorities observed that the failing channels were mainly thematic channels broadcast by SIC and that European works accounted for 46.06% of the total broadcast by SIC in 2005 (a figure, they argue, very close to the minimum required) and 54.70% of the total broadcast by SIC in 2006. The Commission reiterates that the proportion of transmission time specified in Article 4(1) of the Directive applies to each of the television channels of broadcasters falling within the jurisdiction of the Member state concerned. However, the Commission notes that considerable progress has been made by these channels in the scheduling of European works, in line with the principle of progressive achievement, and encourages Portugal to sustain this trend.

European works made by independent producers

The average proportion of European works by independent producers on all reported channels was 23.69% and 30.31% in 2005 and 2006, respectively, representing an increase of 6.62 percentage points over the reference period. At the same time, this represents an increase of 2.65 points over four years (2003-2006).

During the entire reference period, of the total of 13 covered channels, 11 channels exceeded the minimum specified in Article 5 of the Directive, while two channels failed to reach the target. The compliance rate, in terms of number of channels, remained stable over 2005-2006 at 85%.

The average relative proportion of recent European works was 90.17% in 2005 and 93.50% in 2006, representing an increase of 3.30 percentage points over the reference period.

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