Brexit: rules change for UK based broadcasters
DECEMBER 27, 2020 14.04 EUROPE/LONDON BY ROBERT BRIEL

Following Brexit, broadcasting and video on-demand services with a UK license are affected from January 1, 2021, when they are also offering their services outside the UK.

On that date, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and the country of origin principle will no longer apply to services under UK jurisdiction broadcast into the EU.

However, the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (ECTT) framework will still apply.

This means that the twenty EU countries that have signed up to ECTT must allow freedom of reception to services under UK jurisdiction. How this right is given effect in each country may depend on national law and how the ECTT has been implemented locally.

The UK must also permit freedom of reception for services that originate from all countries that are party to the ECTT.

However seven European countries have not signed up to ECTT: Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Sweden.

As a result of this, Sky Ireland has pulled a number of TV channels and radio stations from its EPG in the Republic.