Association of Commercial Television in Europe Rue Joseph II, 9-13, BE-1000 Brussels Tel: + 32 (0)2 736 00 52 - Fax: + 32 (0)2 735 41 72 www.acte.be ACT / Annual Report 2011 Table of content 1 / Editorial by Philippe Delusinne 2 ACT President & CEO RTL Belgium 2 / Interview with Neelie Kroes 4 Vice President of the European Commission & Commissioner for the EU Digital Agenda 3 / Facts & Figures 6 4 / A view from the top 14 5 / The regulatory challenge – A future-proof EU media 20 policy framework Ross Biggam, ACT Director General 6 / Content & Copyright 22 Investment in content 24 Interview with Bertrand Méheut, CEO Canal+ Group The value of copyright in multiplatform distribution: an asset to be protected 26 Gina Nieri, ACT Vice President & Member of the Board Mediaset Group 7 / Integrated media companies in a changing 28 media landscape Responding to constant change in consumer behaviour 30 Interview with Bert Habets, CEO RTL Nederland TF1 as a 360° media company 32 Interview with Nonce Paolini, CEO TF1 Group 8 / Commercial broadcasters as multiplatform distributors 34 New media strategies & product launches across Europe 36 Online distribution strategies 42 Interview with José Manuel González Pacheco, Director General Antena 3 Multimedia 9 / TV & new forms of communication in today’s societies 44 Freedom of expression as driver of democracy 46 Utta Tuttlies, Chair ACT Communications Group & Head of Communications Awards to ACT Members for Excellence in Journalism 49 30 years of electronic news history 51 Merja Ylä-Anttila, Head of News & Current Affairs MTV3 Helsinki, Finland Choice & diversity in the Romanian TV landscape 54 Calin Popa, Director General National TV 10 / Awards 56 11 / ACT Members 62 12 / Abbreviations 97 ACT / Annual Report 2011 scheduled – television. It does not even the mobile, a tablet device or the main linked, points – exclusive rights to our take into account on-demand viewing that TV set, which is itself already likely to be content, and territoriality of rights. If is growing at a rapid pace. Concerning HD or 3D, and in a year or two may well these fundamental principles are put into interest in news, I would like to refer to have a broadband internet connection. question, then we will no longer be able an example from my own market, namely Diversification of business models, of to serve our viewers as we are doing now. French-speaking Belgium. The evening platforms and programmes is no longer Finally, we need to accept the challenge news from RTL-TVI at 7 pm called “Les a wish but a reality within our channels of digitisation and new technologies heures” scores an average audience share and its future prospects are bright. and respond to those as we do now: of 46.5%, which shows not only success by diversifying our business models and with our viewers but their real interest in But we need to make sure that we are in revenue streams. global and local developments. a position to develop further. This will only be possible if we can ensure a reasonable The ACT Annual Report 2011 gives Editorial In the Middle East television along with return upon our investments. Programme- an insight into the various facets of online and social media has even been a making is not only a creative process but our members´ contribution to creation, driver of political developments leading also an expensive one. And one at which to society, to consumers and to media to the toppling of old regimes in several European commercial broadcasters and our freedom and diversity. We are grateful states. Yet not only in the Middle East, partners - the independent producers - are that Vice-President & Commissioner but all over the world television plays very good. Today European programmes Neelie Kroes has agreed to give us an a fundamental role in our society. As and formats are successfully sold interview on the Digital Agenda and her by Philippe Delusinne, commercial broadcasters we take our abroad with the EU boasting a view on the development of our sector. ACT President & CEO RTL Belgium responsibility seriously. It is our task and considerable trade surplus over the US Several CEOs and media senior executives honour to report on developments, inform in this field. Our European programmes explain their business strategies and speak people – and entertain them. Make them and formats travel around the world and about investment in content, the role of happy and reflect. All over Europe entertain millions of people outside of copyright, choice of media offers and the In a continuously changing media environment our channels invest millions of Euro Europe. That is good news. Concerning role of news for a media company today. – around 50% of our revenues - to our own programmes and audiovisual ACT Director General Ross Biggam gives a with online and new media seeing great create content. Whether it is for cost- content we make sure that where there is regulatory outlook on our sector. intensive genres such as news or drama a monetisable demand for it, viewers can or for the acquisition of expensive sports also access and view their favourite national As usual, we provide a wide range of success – people continue to watch television. rights in football, tennis or basketball – content outside of their home countries. facts and figures on broadcasting and we are committed to providing the best Whether it is Polish programmes shown give you an update on the activities of our schedules and programmes to our viewers. in the US or Romanian content to the members in the final chapter. Dear ladies and gentlemen, And we have a challenging task in front of Romanian diaspora population We are looking back at a year which has television? Well – quite a lot. Let me To be with our seen a series of major events. Just think of explain why. As commercial broadcasters we take our responsibility seriously. the revolutions in the Middle East. Or think viewers and be close about sports and the joy of FC Barcelona All these events have become global It is our task and honour to report on developments, inform when winning the Champions League knowledge. I am sure that when reading to them – this is final in May 2011. Or about the special these lines you have a picture in mind people – and entertain them. Make them happy and reflect. moments in the summer when the royals in which you have seen. And where have you our declared goal Sweden, the UK and Monaco said “yes”. seen it? On television. Images of people, of us – to be with our viewers for 24 hours worldwide, whether it is Sky News Enjoy reading and best regards, nature, of catastrophes, of joy, of happiness. a day, 7 days per week. To make sure shown in 36 European countries, the and main objective. But we have also seen dramatic that when they tune in they chose us content of Canal+ available in about developments. The tsunami and the In a continuously changing media because of trust, confidence in our brands, 30 French-speaking countries in Africa threat of nuclear catastrophe in Japan, environment with online and new media professional work of our journalists and and localised versions offered in Poland Africa being hit by the worst famine in 60 seeing great success – people continue programmes delivering what they promise. and Vietnam; or Eurosport available all years, and Norway shaken by a murderer to watch television. This is where they over Europe in different languages. We shooting teenagers on a peaceful island. get the news, where they turn to relax To be with our viewers and be close to will look into providing our services On the economic front we are faced with and be entertained – where they inform them – this is our declared goal and main in those territories where a critical continuous attempts to shore up the Euro, themselves, learn new things, or just enjoy objective. Therefore, we do not only mass of consumers asks for it, and the US facing a historic level of debt and the themselves. Today people in Europe respond to technological change but we where it is economically feasible. global economic motor stuttering. watch television on average 228 anticipate it. All over Europe we see our To be able to continue to reinvest such minutes per day. This is an impressive channels going online and offering their a high proportion of revenue in new Why do I mention all this – and what do figure which has increased over the last content on any possible platform that content in the future, we need to make all these developments have to do with ten years and only relates to linear – or consumers like – whether it is the internet, sure that we maintain two essential, Philippe Delusinne / 2 / 3 ACT / Annual Report 2011 Consumer patterns are also changing, becoming more individualised, content " Rightholders should not be obliged is becoming more user-generated and business models will have to adapt to this. to license for all European territories but Therefore, I see a chance for the audiovisual remain free to restrict their licences to sector to innovate and develop ways of boosting creative content and creating certain territories and to contractually a solid independent production industry in Europe able to compete with other set the level of licence fees." countries' studios in a changing future. The European TV market was worth European formats have been exported debate on how to create a Digital Single €91.7 billion in 2010 with up to 50% to the US where a high proportion of Market for audiovisual content.