Ofcom has published an independent study by RAND Europe on the impact of the European Commission's proposed Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive. The directive aims to extend regulation beyond the Television without Frontiers Directive, which has been in place since 1989. The rhetoric of the new directive is so open that it could be extended to include new media sectors such as IPTV and mobile multimedia.

If the directive were accepted in it's current form, it would be considered by the European Council and the European Parliament for adoption in 2007.

"The proposal has raised serious concerns among UK and European industry, on the grounds that it will significantly increase regulatory costs and uncertainty. Further, it has been argued that it will negatively impact on innovation, European competitiveness, and the Lisbon Agenda goals."

"For its' part, Ofcom has expressed serious doubts about the practicability and appropriateness of extending broadcasting regulation to a whole range of new media services which are very different from traditional TV, both in nature and in the manner in which they are consumed."

The study looks at the indirect impact of the new directive on IPTV, mobile multimedia and online games.

Visit Ofcom to download the study, Assessing Indirect Impacts of the EC Proposals for Video Regulation, by RAND Europe.