EU Broadcasters Push for Stricter Smart TV Tech Rules
▼ Summary
– ACT urges the EU to classify smart TV operating systems as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act to regulate their market power.
– It also calls for virtual assistant platforms to be designated as gatekeepers, citing a current regulatory void.
– The request highlights how these systems act as intermediaries, controlling user access and content distribution.
– ACT cites the growing market share of systems like Android TV and Amazon Fire OS as evidence of this concentration.
– The group asks the EU to apply DMA rules using qualitative criteria, even if platforms don’t meet specific quantitative thresholds.
A major coalition of European broadcasters is urging regulators to impose stricter rules on smart TV platforms and voice assistants, framing the issue as critical for preserving competition in the digital media market. The Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe, known as ACT, has formally requested that the European Commission classify these technologies as gatekeepers under the existing Digital Markets Act (DMA). This move aims to curb the expanding influence of major technology firms over how audiences discover and access content.
Broadcasters argue that operating systems like Android TV and Amazon Fire OS are becoming powerful intermediaries. Their market share has grown significantly, with Android TV rising to 23% and Fire OS reaching 12%, a trend fueled by both proprietary devices and licensing deals with television manufacturers. Samsung’s Tizen OS also holds a substantial 24% share. While connected TVs have created new opportunities, ACT warns that a handful of platform operators now risk monopolizing the industry by controlling audience access and content distribution. These systems can influence user behavior through design and incentives, effectively keeping viewers within a single ecosystem.
The concern extends beyond operating systems to include virtual assistants. ACT highlights a regulatory void where AI-powered assistants can curate and recommend media across applications without being subject to DMA obligations. The association contends this allows a small number of companies to function as unchecked gatekeepers, shaping the media landscape without sufficient oversight.
To address this, ACT and its partners, which include major media groups like Canal+, ITV, and Warner Bros. Discovery, are calling for a broader application of the DMA. They recommend that Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager apply the rules using qualitative assessments of market power, even when a platform does not meet specific quantitative thresholds like 45 million monthly active users. The group also advocates for a reassessment of the “business user” definition within the DMA’s ongoing review, which would help determine if virtual assistants should be regulated as gatekeepers.
This push for stricter regulation is supported by several other industry bodies, including the European Broadcasting Union and the Association of European Radios. Together, they stress that proactive designation and adequate oversight are essential to ensure fairness and contestability in a market increasingly dominated by a few integrated technology platforms.
(Source: The Next Web)