Media: geoblocking of audiovisual content maintained in the European Union

European Parliament has adopted a report revising geo-blocking rules in the European Union (376 votes in favour, 111 against and 107 abstentions), including an amendment by German MEP Sabine Verheyen (CDU) which maintains geoblocking for audiovisual content, including sports broadcasts, on 13/12/2023.

Ahead of the vote, more than 700 organisations had signed a joint letter opposing the report, which was aimed in particular at abolishing geoblocking for audiovisual content, including sports broadcasts, in the European Union. The letter was written at the initiative of the Association of Commercial Television and Video-on-Demand Services in Europe (ACT).

The signatories opposed to the bill included UEFA, the pay-TV group beIN Media Group, the pay-TV and free-TV group Canal+, the Spanish audiovisual group Mediapro, the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH, Lega Serie A, LALIGA, the Premier League, LFP Media and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

"We salute the decision taken today in the European Parliament. This is a strong and powerful signal sent to all legislators and particularly the…