No C 159/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 89 
3.4.3. The research activities to be carried out under 
this sub-programme are closely linked to the work 
under the heading 'Technologies for Environmental 
Protection' in the STEP(1) programme. The Com­
mission is urged to ensure that the activities under the 
two programmes are complementary so that maximum 
benefit can be obtained from the limited funds to be 
allocated to the REWARD sub-programme. 
3.4.4. This recommendation also holds good for the 
'Energy production from waste' programme, whose 
research activities are closely linked to the JOULE 
programme (non-nuclear energies) (2) and its sub-pro­
gramme 'Energy from biomass'. 
(') Science and Technology for Environmental Protection. 
(2) Joint Opportunities for Long Term Energy Supply. 
Done at Brussels, 26 April 1989. 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The Commission's proposal for a Council 
Decision to involve the EC in the funding and to assist 
in the development of high definition services in Europe 
has the full support of the Committee. 
1.2. The development of High Definition Television 
(HDTV) possesses a dramatic potential by providing in 
(') OJ No C37, 14. 2. 1989, p. 5. 3.5. Review and evaluation of the programme 
3.5.1. Article 4 of the draft Decision states that a 
review is to be carried out when the programme is in 
its second year. The outcome of the review will, if 
necessary, give rise to proposals to amend or extend 
the programme. 
3.5.2. When the Commission was drawing up its 
present proposal, sufficient scientific results of research 
under the current 1986-1989 programme were in many 
cases not yet available. The Committee therefore con­
siders that the final evaluation of the 1986-1989 pro­
gramme should be taken carefully into account when 
reviewing the new programme. 
3.5.3. The Committee would also reiterate its request 
that Article 4 be amended to make express provision 
for the Economic and Social Committee to be sent the 
findings of the review and of the evaluation of the 
results achieved. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
the home and elsewhere a viewing experience similar 
to that of the wide screens of the cinema. It has been 
possible to achieve this by providing more detail in 
the picture which satisfies the technical relationship 
between visual acuity and viewing distance. 
1.3. HDTV contains a lot more detail which, com­
bined with a larger screen, allows a new viewing experi­
ence. Furthermore, the new technology can be used in 
new areas like printing, education, health, etc. Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on High Definition Television (!) 
(89/C 159/12) 
On 16 December 1988, the Council decided, in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community, to consult the Economic and Social Com­
mittee on the abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services was instructed to prepare the work 
on this topic and adopted its Opinion on 5 April 1989, in the light of the report by Mr 
Poeton, rapporteur. 
The Economic and Social Committee, at its 265th plenary session, meeting on 26 April 1989, 
adopted the following Opinion with no dissenting votes and 3 abstentions. 
26. 6. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 159/35 
1.4. Twenty years ago colour was introduced in a 
manner such that although downward compatibility 
was maintained with existing black and white receivers, 
there was no international or indeed even European 
standard. As a result, two different systems (PAL and 
SECAM) developed and hindered the European con­
sumer electronics industry for years. 
1.5. At the 1986 International Radio Consultative 
Committee (CCIR) in Dubrovnik, the European Com­
munity succeeded in preventing the adoption of a 
Japanese proposal for a world HDTV standard and 
obtained an additional study period of 4 years, up to 
Summer 1990, for reaching world-wide agreement. The 
Japanese standard was incompatible with all existing 
TV sets and equipment and would therefore require 
new equipment throughout. 
1.6. European industry under its 'EUREKA' R&D 
HDTV project (EU 95) has succeeded in demonstrating 
a new system, based on the MAC standard, which 
provides a complete HDTV service and is also at the 
same time fully compatible with existing normal TV 
sets and equipment. This demonstration met CCIR 
requirements. 
2. Compatibility through standards 
2.1. There are however still a number of technical 
problems to overcome. 
2.2. The larger amount of detail contained within an 
HDTV picture demands a larger slice of the broadcast 
spectrum (bandwidth): 
— it cannot therefore be transmitted over an existing 
terrestrial UHF television channel, 
— the existing satellite channel bandwidths are also 
insufficient, without adopting bandwidth com­
pression techniques. To obtain the necessary num­
ber of satellite channels new bandwidth reduction 
techniques (HD MAC) can and must be introduced 
simultaneously. 
3. General comments 
3.1. The Committee congratulates the EU 95 project 
team on the success so far achieved but stresses that the 
tight schedule up to now respected cannot be relaxed at 
this stage. This is not only in view of the CCIR deadline 
but also of the strong competition from the USA, Japan, 
South Korea (and soon other countries) where govern­
ments are working with industry to obtain the largest 
share of the world market. 3.2. The following points are, in the Committee's 
opinion, of particular relevance: 
a) Obsolescence of the TV receivers currently in use 
must be prevented at all costs, and the European 
approach makes this possible. 
b) The fact that the Japanese have recently produced 
a convenor from their MUSE system to NTSC 
(the existing American/Japanese standard) must not 
create uncertainty in the market place. The 'inherent 
compatibility factor' achieved by EUREKA, which 
should be emphasised at every stage, makes such a 
convertor unnecessary. 
c) Every incentive must be given to maintain and 
expand Europe's consumer electronics sector, not 
least to avoid job losses such as those which 
occurred 20 years ago; in tandem with this public 
commitment, every effort should be made to prevent 
substantial production being transferred to areas 
outside the Community and countries of the Euro­
pean Free Trade Association (EFTA). 
d) The Committee observes that it is already commer­
cially possible for 'Japan Incorporated' to manufac­
ture and market their own HDTV 'MUSE' system 
(video-disc recorders and monitors) independently 
of any CCIR decisions and therefore establish de 
facto their own standards in the market place. Con­
versely no one can prevent European industry doing 
likewise: it should be given every encouragement to 
do so as soon as possible. 
e) Progress with the technical work on equipment 
needs to be accompanied by similar development 
of production techniques for software (programme 
material, films, etc.) and an increase in funding of 
programme production. 
f) Projections of market penetration are a real hazard 
and may well be over-optimistic: different estimates 
place the value of the HDTV technology market 
(production, transmission and reception equipment) 
between 25 and 52 billion dollars in the USA alone; 
considering the European and Japanese markets, 
the figures could reach 150 billion dollars in the 10 
years after the launch of services. 
g) The US consumer electronics industry, although 
ossified, is reported to be mobilizing itself with 
federal government assistance to develop HDTV 
technology and manufacture HDTV products. 
h) Patient long term, strategic, investment and finan­
cial planning backed substantially by the financial 
instruments of the Community is essential. 
No C 159/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 89 
i) In the short term, the Community should continue 
to contribute to the funding of pilot projects that 
include studio and demonstration equipment such 
as OB vans, giant screens, etc. which need every 
encouragement and support. 
3.3. Funding has been allocated within the RACE 
(Research and Development in advanced telecommuni­
cation technologies for Europe) programme. Its esti­
mated cost of 45 million ECU (of which 15 million ECU 
would be provided by Community funds) represents 
4,1% of the total RACE budget (1 100 million ECU); 
the 15 million ECU are 2,73% of the RACE costs in 
charge of the Community (550 million ECU). 
4. Specific comments on the objectives of the European 
HDTV strategy 
4.1. The Committee endorses the 4 objectives. 
4.1.1. Article 1 
The European success in securing a 4 year breathing 
space on the CCIR (the world TV governing body) 
was crowned with a EURO R&D technical advance. 
Vigorous diplomatic activity throughout the rest of the 
world is most important to promote European industry 
and standards in this field. With a view to meeting 
the Summer 1990 deadline, all Member States, the EC 
institutions and the relevant interested parties should 
be actively involved: in particular, it is vital that the 
public and private broadcasting networks provide 
strong commitment to help the industry in its efforts, 
increasing substantially the number of programmes 
conforming to Objective 2 of Article 1. 
4.1.2. Article2 
4.1.2.1. In view of the importance of the subject, the 
widest consultation is needed and must involve the 
social partners, both through consumer (e.g. viewers 
organizations), worker and employer organizations and 
through the Economic and Social Committee. 
4.1.2.2. Comprehensive support to all the pro­
fessional 'users' (broadcasters, programme makers, etc.) 
Done at Brussels, 26 April 1989. of the new equipment is the top priority. The major 
structural changes now taking place, as direct satellite 
broadcasting is introduced, places HDTV lower on the 
list of these broadcasting organizations' priorities. This 
imperils development and thus employment in the 
manufacturing industries. 
The Committee demands that the action plan foreseen 
in Article 3 include a specific programme of professional 
training. This programme must ensure that all the 
people employed in the industry at all levels and sectors 
(programming, broadcasting, etc.) are ready to accept 
and technically prepared to use the new technology 
successfully. Equally it would be very beneficial to link, 
right away, the world of audio-visual artistic pro­
ductions with this proposal, e.g. through coordination 
with the programmes to aid the European film industry. 
Consultation of the Economic and Social Committee 
should be officially foreseen. 
5. Conclusion 
The Committee has already expressed its strong support 
for the development of European standards in 
HDTV(1). The EUREKA EU 95 project presents the 
opportunity to establish the only fully compatible stan­
dard capable of introducing HDTV without making 
existing sets and equipment obsolete. 
The Council Decision is therefore urgently needed to 
provide a framework of support for the final stages 
required to demonstrate that the European standard is 
technically the most suitable to be adopted as the world 
standard. 
In conclusion, the Committee lays the greatest possible 
stress on the vital importance of the economic and 
social issues at stake and calls on the Community to 
mobilize all its forces unreservedly and with the utmost 
vigour in support of the efforts pursued by European 
industry in this field. 
(') ESC Opinion on the Communication from the Commission 
on a fresh boost for culture in the European Community, 
point 3.3.3 (High Definition Television programmes (Euro­
pean standards), dated 28 apnl 1988) (OJ No C 175, 
4. 7. 1988, p. 40). 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE