WRITTEN QUESTION E-0246/03 by Raina Echerer (Verts/ALE)and Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Media: mini-ads during the transmission of sporting events in Italy.
Date: 2003-02-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, advertising, application of EU law, broadcasting, complaint to the Commission, exchange of information, sporting event, television

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/201

(2003/C 161 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0246/03

by Raina Echerer (Verts/ALE)
and Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 February 2003)

Subject: Media: mini-ads during the transmission of sporting events in Italy

More than a year ago the Commission received a complaint about the practices adopted by Italian
commercial broadcasters and, unfortunately, recently also by the public broadcaster RAI, of interrupting
the transmission of football matches to broadcast a large number of very short advertisements each lasting
a few seconds (up to 15 per game).

These mini-ads are clearly in breach of the European rules laid down by the Community directive on the
pursuit of television broadcasting activities (89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 (1)), which clearly states that
during the transmission of sporting events comprising intervals advertisements may be shown only during
the intervals, i.e. between the first and second halves of football matches.

Mini-ads show how the creation of a dominant position in the advertising market has come about partly
through illegal practices that have gone on for years. These practices have created serious barriers for
possible new entrants, to the detriment of the public’s right to pluralism of information.

This is an extremely sensitive issue for the democratic functioning of any country and, given that unlawful
involving financial gains of several hundred million euro for private
practices are still occurring,
broadcasters and exposing Italian viewers to excessive advertising not allowed under European rules,
and that
the Commission apparently adopted a position upholding the complaint some time ago
(cf. La Repubblica daily newspaper of 3 January 2003, p. 48).

Can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Has the Italian Government already replied to the pre-infringement

letter from the European

Commission?

2. Does this reply, if any, contain denials of the situation that was the subject of the complaint, thereby

preventing the opening of infringement proceedings by the Commission?

3. Does the Commission not consider that by allowing this illegal situation to continue for such a long
time,
it may be
in such a sensitive sector for the democratic life of the country and the media,
compromising its credibility as the guarantor of the Treaties and of the application of Community law
throughout the Union?

(1) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2003)

The Commission has not taken a final position on the complaint the Honourable Members refer to. The
Commission considers that the question as to whether the practice of the Italian broadcasters referred to
constitutes an infringement of Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of
certain provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member States concerning
the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, requires thorough examination. As the written question
rightly states, the Commission has addressed a letter to the Italian authorities asking them to present their
observations.