EU broadcasters urge tighter rules on Big Tech’s control over Smart TVs

The Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) released a statement urging the European Commission to classify smart TV operating systems and virtual assistant platforms as ‘gatekeepers’ under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This move aims to expand regulatory measures against Big Tech companies that increasingly control content distribution and audience access through smart TVs and virtual assistants. The statement highlights competition between traditional broadcasters and Big Tech companies, noting the significant market share growth of Android TV, Amazon Fire OS, and Samsung’s Tizen OS. Broadcasters warn that Connected TVs (CVT) can endanger opportunities by acting as intermediaries and influencing user access. ACT claims this concentration of control could lead to a monopoly by a few operators. They emphasize the importance of designating major TV operating systems as gatekeepers to ensure fairness. ACT also calls for Virtual Assistants (VAs) to be included under DMA rules, pointing to a lack of regulation that allows AI assistants to manage content without DMA obligations. Members of ACT, including major broadcasters like Canal+, RTL, ITV, and the Walt Disney Company, call for applying DMA rules even if platforms don’t meet quantitative thresholds. Additionally, they advocate for a reassessment of the definition of “business users” in determining gatekeeper status for virtual assistants. Other signatories include the Association of European Radios (AER) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).