Flemish TV channels gain more control over TV signal

If it is up to politicians, Flemish TV channels will have more influence over their own TV signal. According to a majority in the Flemish parliament, this is necessary to provide an answer to new developments in the media landscape.

The Flemish political parties sp.a, N-VA and CD&V have submitted a bill that should give TV channels a stronger position vis-à-vis distributors, such as cable companies. “Third parties are not allowed to make changes to the signal, for example by cutting and pasting or displaying other things on the screen without the express permission of the broadcasters”, thus Bart van Malderen, party leader of the sp.a.

Opponents of this bill fear that consumers will be the victims. Bart Caron, media specialist at the political party Groen: “Distributors will have to request permission for each functionality, for example for the possibility to record programs.” Caron fears that people will have to pay for recording programs on the PVRs offered by the distributor.

According to Van Malderen, the bill is intended ‘to eliminate a number of perverse effects’ and to provide an answer ‘to the rapid developments in a rapidly evolving world’. The bill aims to establish a dialogue between TV channels and distributors.

Earlier, the Flemish broadcasters indicated that they want more money from the distributors. Due to the increasing number of PVRs in the living rooms, the broadcasters would lose advertising revenue.