WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3573/97 by Giancarlo LIGABUE to the Commission. DG X radio broadcasting policy
Date: 1997-11-04
Institutions: European Parliament, LIGABUE
Subjects: EU aid, broadcasting, communications policy, distribution of aid, information technology, new technology, operating cost, satellite communications, waveband

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/175

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3568/97 and E-3569/97
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 1997)

The Commission does not have sufficient details of the matter to be able to investigate the problem raised and is
not therefore in a position to answer the question at the moment. It would ask the Honourable Member to provide
more details.

(98/C 134/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3573/97

by Giancarlo Ligabue (UPE) to the Commission

(4 November 1997)

Subject: DG X radio broadcasting policy

Radio  is  developing  technologically,  moving  on  from  the  analogue  to  the  digital  (DAB,  Digital  Audio
Broadcasting) system. DAB enables radio to enter the multimedia sphere, providing information, services and
data in addition to the traditional music and entertainment programmes. DAB radio, which has now come to the
end of the experimental phase, will be broadcast by land using frequency bands different from the conventional
FM and AM, and in the near future there will be the possibility of direct satellite reception even for portable or car
radios. These technologies require major investment for the broadcasting and production of programmes and a
considerable economic effort by broadcasters who, for a fairly long time, perhaps more than ten years, will have
to maintain two networks in operation: the present FM and the new DAB without any hope of new advertising
revenue. These difficulties will in all probability be felt most acutely by small local broadcasters whose survival
will be seriously jeopardized.

1.  Why is radio constantly ignored by DG X despite the entreaties of European radio broadcasters and their

organizations?

2.  Why does DG X define the audiovisual sector in official documents as consisting of television and cinema,

for instance in the document (cid:145)Politique audiovisuelle: bilan et perspectives(cid:146) of 30 July 1997.

3.  Why is no mention whatsoever made of radio in the section of the document dealing with development of the

audiovisual sector and its priorities?

4.  Are experts or representatives of radio to be included in the (cid:145)high level group(cid:146) announced in the document?

5.  Why has DG X never put forward a proposal for a project or plan of action for radio as it has done (Media II

› Plan of action for 16:9 TV) for television, cinema, books and other media?

6.  Why, despite the fact that projects have been proposed by groups of small private radio broadcasters has the
only fund for multilingual innovation in the radio and television sector been allocated to projects supported
by public radio and television services and their consortia which already have considerable public funding?

7.  How  does  the  Commission,  and  in  particular  DG  X,  intend  to  act  to  remedy  the  unfavourable  climate
prevailing on the radio market due to the effect of action to promote other media, some, like television, in
direct competition, which has seriously distorted competition both on the single market and on individual
national markets?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 1997)

In  view  of  the  length  of  its  answer,  the  Commission  is  sending  it  direct  to  the  Honourable  Member  and  to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.