IRIS Special

Tomorrow's Delivery of Audiovisual Services

Legal Questions Raised by Digital Broadcasting and Mobile Reception

35 EUR
ISBN 92-871-5707-3
56 pages
2005 Edition

This IRIS Special issue follows a dual goal: first, to survey the current state of digital television, and second, to focus on the latest forms in which media content is being offered.

The common element linking these two main themes is the discussion of new approaches to regulation in media and telecommunications law. This involved asking the fundamental question of what regulation is necessary for new electronic media content services and what instruments might be appropriate here.

• What insights can be provided by the introduction of digital television, so as to allow these previously separate worlds to be drawn together in law?
• How are the new approaches to regulation in media law to be evaluated?
• What can media law and media policy learn from electronic communications law, as far as the industry’s policy goals in relation to the introduction of new technologies and services are concerned?
• Which approaches could possibly be transferred to the other area?
• How are we to deal with frictions that could arise in the event that broadcasting and electronic communications “get in each other’s way”?
• What potentially joint challenges have to be faced (such as interoperability)?
• How can we turn things into a win-win situation for all those involved?

Such were the questions – both numerous and exciting – that are taken up in this issue of IRIS Special. It also describes the framework for possible answers to the questions listed above.

Part A of this IRIS Special provides an introduction to the topic.
Part B of is devoted to a survey of the current state of affairs, including in particular the development of the television market and the regulatory status quo.
Part C investigates the new challenges that digital broadcasting of programme content has created. The discussion will include problems involved in the changeover to DVB-T, stipulations for new enhanced television services, “must carry” regulations, aspects of interoperability and the influence of the market.
The investigation also extends in Part D to the question of how “television” is presented via mobile devices. This includes an overview of the technical fundamentals as well as a discussion of the new contents of regulation and of the new tasks of regulation.

A summary of the main results concludes this issue of IRIS Special.