Evolution of the European Standards of Reporting of Major Events by the Electronic Media

Alicja Jaskiernia

English version of the article

The author discusses the legal framework governing broadcasts of major events and a right of short reporting in the electronic media, mainly TV. It covers European law in broader sense, including regulatory instruments of the Council of Europe (e.g. European Convention of Transfrontier Television) and the European Union (e.g. "Television without Frontiers" Directive). Recent legal developments in this field discussed are: the Court of First Instance ruling in the "Infront" case, the proposal for an amendment of "Television without Frontiers" Directive and preparation for a new recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in this field was included. The step-by-step development of these standards was influenced by the fact that, on the one hand, member states should ensure that broadcasters established in other member states are not deprived of access to events of high interest to the public which are transmitted by broadcasters under their jurisdiction but, on the other, it should not be forgotten that such reporting restricts exclusive marketing rights and therefore affects contrary interests and important legal positions.

KEYWORDS

major events, reporting rights, TV, European standards, Council of Europe, European Union, European Convention on Transfrontier Television, "Television without Frontiers" Directive