The European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO), part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, organises a major free entry conference in Brussels every autumn. Target groups for this conference are media industry professionals, decision makers and interest groups, regulators, representatives from the European institution, academics and researchers and press. This year’s conference, the third edition of this highly successful event, will focus on the issue of media ownership.

The Observatory will explore the dangers and the opportunities linked to the question of media concentration by presenting two major new reports: the first a market study of media concentration in Europe and the second a legal analysis of legislation in place to protect the independence and pluralism of media in Europe. The EAO will explore these themes with an expert panel and invite active participation from our audience during this 2 hour event.

This free entry public conference will take place in Brussels on Wednesday 12th of October from 12.30 to 15.30. A buffet lunch will be held from 12.30 to 13.30 and the actual conference takes place from 13.30 – 15.30.

The Observatory’s Executive Director, Susanne Nikoltchev, stated that these new reports and conference should “provide a much needed overview of where the media power lies in Europe at the moment”. Nikoltchev added that “media ownership and media concentration issues are near the top of the European political agenda. The centralisation of power over media may not only distort competition but also concentrate media control in too few hands. Our freedom of expression and information are at stake here. They are a non-negotiable element of democracy and core value of the Council of Europe.” She explained that “the Observatory will provide a roadmap of current European media ownership issues.”

The Observatory’s new market analysis report will be presented by Gilles Fontaine, Head of the Observatory’s Department for Information on Markets and Financing.

A sneak preview of the Observatory’s forthcoming legal report on media ownership will be provided by Mark Cole of the Saarbrücken based Institute of European Media Law.

A panel discussion led by Maja Cappello, Head of the Observatory’s Department for Legal Information, will first examine the economic development of the European television and audiovisual markets. Locking horns on this issue will be Jane Rumble of OFCOM, Paola Nebbia of the European Commission’s Antitrust Unit and Michael Petri of the KEK, the German media concentration watchdog.

Our panellists will then examine possible regulatory responses – at a national and European level – to media concentration issues in Europe.

The working language of this conference is English. Participation is free but upon registration only.

To reserve a seat, contact alison.hindhaugh@coe.int

Panel:

• Mark Cole, Director for Academic Affairs at the Institute of European Media Law (Saarbrücken/Brussels)
• Gilles Fontaine, Head of the Observatory’s Department for Information on Markets and Financing
• Paola Nebbia, DG Competition, Unit C2 Antitrust: Media, European Commission
• Michael Petri, Legal and Media Concentration Expert, K.E.K (German Commission for Investigating Media Concentration)
• Jane Rumble, Director of Market Intelligence, Ofcom

Programme:

• 13.30 – 13.35: Opening – Susanne Nikoltchev, Executive Director, European Audiovisual Observatory
• 13.35 – 13.40: Presentation of theme and speakers – Maja Cappello, Head of the Observatory’s Department for Legal Information Setting the scene
• 13.40 – 13.55: Media concentration – European and national market realities presented by Gilles Fontaine
• 13.55 – 14.10: The regulatory response to media concentration presented by Mark Cole
• 14.10 – 14.25: Panel discussion with Q&A from the audience moderated by Maja Cappello Views from the UK, Germany and the EU Commission
• 14.25 – 14.35: Ofcom, presented by Jane Rumble
• 14.35 – 14.45: KEK, presented by Michael Petri
• 14.45 – 14.55: EU, presented by Paola Nebbia
• 14.55 – 15.15: Panel discussion with Q&A from the audience moderated by Maja Cappello Summing up of conference conclusions
• 15.15 – 15.25: Main findings of the conference presented by Deirdre Kevin, Analyst in the Observatory’s Department for Information on Markets and Financing.
• 15.25 – 15.30: Closing remarks by Susanne Nikoltchev