A coalition representing commercial broadcasters in Europe has called on the European Commission to broaden its strict Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations to include smart TVs and virtual assistants. The Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) has pointed out the growing market dominance of firms like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Samsung, advocating that these platforms should be identified as gatekeepers under the DMA.
ACT, which encompasses key broadcasters such as Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sky, and TF1 Groupe, contends that a small number of operators are acquiring the power to shape outcomes for millions of users and businesses by managing access to audiences and content distribution. They stress the importance of the Commission labeling major TV operating systems as gatekeepers to maintain fairness and competitive balance in the market.
The coalition has raised alarms that companies like Apple might have motivations to keep users within their ecosystems, possibly hindering access to content and services. This issue parallels ongoing debates concerning the App Store, which is currently regulated under the DMA. The dynamics between Apple and the EU have been fraught, especially regarding App Store policies, with recent proposals under evaluation for almost a year.
Besides smart TVs, ACT has voiced concerns about virtual assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, which have yet to be designated as gatekeepers under the DMA. This absence of classification has created a regulatory void, enabling these influential AI assistants to operate as unofficial gatekeepers for media content across multiple platforms without being bound by DMA requirements.
ACT’s appeal represents a broader initiative for regulatory oversight in the swiftly changing digital environment, striving to ensure that major tech companies do not monopolize access to content and services.