All articles by Eleanor Kenny – Page 4
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News
EC eyes plans to expand MEDIA to non-European countries
The European Commission (EC) today took the first step toward building a possible audiovisual cooperation programme with countries outside the European Union (EU).The MEDIA programme - the EC's support scheme for the audiovisual industry -published a call for proposals for cooperation projects with so-called 'third' countries, which could involve links ...
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European Commissionfights on for broadband despite setbacks
The European Commission (EC) is confident that it will achieve its targets for broadband uptake across the European Union (EU), despite the disappointing figures published and what would appear to be a waning commitment from Member States.EU-wide access to high speed internet services is widely regarded as essential if digital ...
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News
'Wait and see' attitude prevails in complex digital rights world
If there was one thing that the delegates at Screen's Maximising Digital Revenue conference agreed on, it's that nobody really knows what will happen next with digital rights.The conference brought together key producers, distributors, sales agents and lawyers to discuss how the film industry could move forward to create revenue ...
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Screen conference keynote: industry has to rethink release windows
The film industry needs to embrace the challenges and opportunities offered by new distribution platforms or lose out as consumers go elsewhere for content.That is the view of Ian Lewis, Director of Sky Movies & Sky Box Office, at BSkyB.Lewis was the keynote speaker at today's Screen International-backed Maximising Digital ...
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News
Croatia joins EU's MEDIA Programme
Croatia has become the first candidate country to join the European Union's (EU) MEDIA 2007 programme - the support programme for the region's audiovisual industry.European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows Croatia to participate in the programme with Ambassador ...
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Industry objects to European Commission's online content plans
Key elements of the European Commission's (EC) proposals to promote content online have come under fire from a host of industry representatives and associations across Europe.The strength of objections became clear as responses to a public consultation on the Commission's proposals were published.The UK Film Council criticised the Commission's overall ...
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Features
In focus - Financing - Filming in hard times
The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer's annual budget has been watched with trepidation by the film industry in recent years. The biggest change was the dramatic overhaul of the tax system that ended the sale-and-leaseback era.But in hindsight Gordon Brown, now the prime minister, made perhaps the most significant gesture ...
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News
UK Culture Minister defends Creative Industries strategy
Criticism that there are no funds to support the UK government's recently released strategy for the creative industries has been shrugged off by the UK's new Minister for Culture, Creative industries and Tourism, Margaret Hodge.In an interview with film producer David Puttnam that was made public, Hodge was asked whether ...
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News
UK Finance: Life After Loopholes
The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer's annual budget has been watched with trepidation by the film industry in recent years. The biggest change was the dramatic overhaul of the tax system that ended the sale-and-leaseback era in 2006.But in hindsight Gordon Brown, now the prime minister, made perhaps the most ...
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News
UK government unveils 'action plan' for creative industries
The UK government today unveiled an 'action plan' for the creative industries with the launch of a report entitled 'New Talents for the New Economy'.The headline measure features a plan to develop 5,000 apprenticeships across the creative industries sector by 2013, which has already attracted commitments from employers such as ...
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News
EU survey shows explosion in VoD
Video on Demand (VoD) services in Europe rose by a staggering 82% in 2007. That is the finding of a new EU survey by the published by the European Audiovisual Observatory and the French Government's Media Development Department.By the end of 2007, a total of 258 VoD services were in ...
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News
UK industry leaders issue call for bold thinking
The UK needs to be braver and more imaginative in its approach to fostering creative industries across the spectrum, including film, television and video games.That was the key message from industry leaders attending 'The UK's Creative Economy - Options for Strategy' seminar held at the Royal United Services Institute in ...
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News
European Commission welcomes UK first in broadband deregulation
The European Commission has approved a bold proposal by Ofcom to deregulate broadband provision in some areas of the UK. Ofcom has identified four distinct UK broadband markets, which will allow it to remove regulation in areas where competition is regarded as sufficiently strong.The move is a first for an ...
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News
Copyright issues revisited as European Comission opens consultation
The debate on content copyright in the digital age has taken another twist as the European Commission announces a new public consultation on copying levies on electronic and digital equipment.The EC aims to simplify the way levies are dealt with across all 27 Member States and address the latest issues ...
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News
EU ruling hits fight against online piracy
The battle against the illegal downloading was dealt a major blow as the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that internet service providers (ISPs)cannot be obliged to release customers' personal data during civil legal claims raised by copyright owners.The point was settled in a legal action taken by Promusicae, a ...
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News
EU report says legal framework for VoD not solidly defined
The new legal framework for video-on-demand (VoD) services in Europe created under the European Commission's Audio Visual Media Services Directive may not be as solidly defined as expected. That is the conclusion of a report published today by the European Audiovisual Observatory. If true, it could open up a legal ...
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Features
In focus - Digital rights in Europe - 'It's an absolute minefield'
The US has been the leader in digital technologies - from downloads to digital cinema - because it has a large homogenous market where cultural, technical and legal differences are minimal.Contrast that to Europe, which is a complex jumble of states, each with their own laws and traditions. Apple will ...
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News
Amid rising industry concern, British Council defends restructuring
Revelations that the British Council is reviewing its Arts Strategy and restructuring toward a 'multidisciplinary approach' in areas such as film, dance, and the visual arts, have caused uproar in the UK arts community.There is widespread concern that the Council will lose the sectoral expertise it has built up in ...
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News
European Commission outlines strategy for online film
The European Commission has outlined a new strategic approach to support Europe 's online content sector, including film.The Commission estimates that potential retail revenues across the EU's online content market could quadruple from Eu1.8bn ($2.65bn)in 2005 to Eu8.3bn ($12.25bn)by 2010.Given its scale and rapid growth, the Commission believes the sector ...
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News
European Commission approves UK Lottery funding
The European Commission has given the greenlight to 12 Lottery funded film support schemes in the UK. This allays any concerns that the funding could fall foul of EU state aid rules and the schemes have now been approved until the end of 2012.The go-ahead covers more than $45m (£22m) ...