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

United Kingdom

71 channels of the total number of 345 channels identified were non-operational in 2005 and three were non-operational in 2006. No data were communicated for nine channels in 2005 and for five channels in 2006.

European works

All reported channels broadcast an average of 52.56% and 53.02% in 2005 and 2006, respectively. This represents an increase of 0.46 percentage points over the reference period and a slight -0.98 point decrease over four years (2003-2006).

In 2005, of the total number of 274 covered channels, 131 channels achieved the majority proportion specified in Article 4 of the Directive, whereas 134 channels were below the target. The compliance rate, in terms of number of channels, was 48%.

In 2006, of the total of 342 covered channels, 179 channels met the 50% minimum. 158 channels devoted less than 50% of their transmission time to European works. The compliance rate rose to 52%.

European works made by independent producers

The average proportion of European works by independent producers on all reported channels was 28.51% in 2005 and 29.72% in 2006, representing an increase of 1.21 percentage points over the reference period and a -2.28 point decrease over four years (2003-2006).

In 2005, of the total of 274 covered channels, 185 exceeded the minimum proportion specified in Article 5 of the Directive, while 80 channels were below the target. The compliance rate, in terms of number of channels, was 68%.

For 2006, of the total of 342 channels, 227 channels exceeded the minimum proportion of transmission time specified in Article 5 of the Directive. 110 channels did not meet the target. The compliance rate was 66%.

The average relative proportion dedicated to recent European works by independent producers for all channels was 67.63% and 69.58% in 2005 and 2006, respectively, representing a slight increase of 1.85 percentage points over the reference period.

As reasons for failure to achieve the required proportions, the report refers to several factors: the special-interest character and recent nature of the channels concerned; relatively small audience shares; the difficulty in finding European programmes at competitive prices; and the fact that the affected channels are subsidiaries of companies based in third countries broadcasting programmes mostly from their or a distributor’s stock. The Commission reiterates that the proportion specified in Article 4(1) of the Directive applies each year to all the television channels of broadcasters within the jurisdiction of the Member State concerned, with a view in particular to ensuring equal competition. This notwithstanding, the Commission acknowledges that the UK has not only been able to stem the considerable fall in the compliance rate for the scheduling of European works noted in the last report (the number of compliant channels having increased from 101 in 2004 to 179 in 2006), but also managed to stabilise average transmission figures at around 53%. Moreover, the Commission notes that for the public analogue and digital terrestrial channels, the overall proportion of European works in 2006 was 87% and the proportion of independent European works was 33%.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENT 4 — Summary of the reports from the Member States

Key abbreviations:

EW European works²⁰ in relation to TQT (see Article 4 of the Directive)

IP European works made by independent producers in relation to TQT (see Article 5 of the Directive)

RW Recent European works by independent producers in relation to IP (see Article 5 of the Directive)

TQT Total qualifying transmission time (excluding news, sport events, games, advertising, teletext services and teleshopping)

NC Channels for which no data were communicated

NO Channels non-operational during the period concerned

EX Channels exceptionally exempted²¹ or exempted under the ‘where practicable’ provision (following specific reasons given by the Member States)

BELGIUM

The Commission received two reports, one from the French Community of Belgium (BE-FR — Communauté française de Belgique) and one from the Flemish Community (BE-FL — Vlaamse Gemeenschap). No report was received from the German-speaking Community. (Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft).

Number of channels	Reference period	Monitoring methods
BE-FL: Total identified: 38 (2005); 34 (2006) Covered (IND 1): 27 BE-FR: Total identified: 24 (2005); 21 (2006) Covered (IND 1): 16 (2005); 17 (2006)	2005/2006	BE-FL: Statements by the broadcasting companies BE-FR: Overall figures and sampling

I. BE-FL channels