27/01/2009 Session
Technological change in the audiovisual media has made it necessary to revise the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (ECTT), whose aim is to ensure freedom of transmission and retransmission of broadcasting in regardless of frontiers.
During a debate on the regulation of audiovisual media services, based on a report by Andrew McIntosh (, SOC), PACE reiterated that “all media regulation in must respect the right to freedom of expression and information … regardless of frontiers”.
It proposed that the current revision of the ECTT should respect this freedom, define the “public service mission” of audiovisual media services and re-examine the role of the Standing Committee with regard to its supervisory function over compliance with convention obligations and arbitration.
PACE also proposed that measures should be taken to address the allocation of radio-frequency spectrum following the analogue switch-off of broadcasting in many countries as well as the independence of national regulators for the audiovisual media sector.