Media Board brings stakeholders together to discuss media pluralism and sustainability

On Wednesday, 23 September, the European Board for Media Services (Media Board) organised its first Stakeholders’ Forum, dedicated to ‘Media pluralism and the sustainability of media in a rapidly evolving landscape’, at the Conference Centre Albert Borschette in Brussels. 

The Forum brought together national media regulators and a broad range of stakeholders from across the European media ecosystem, including representatives of broadcasters, on-demand services, news publishers, journalists and the digital and advertising sectors, as well as providers of some of these sectors and civil society organisations such as fact-checkers, viewers and media freedom associations. It provided an opportunity for direct exchange on the challenges facing media pluralism and sustainability and on the Media Board’s ongoing and future work.

Amma Asante, Chair of the Media Board, delivered the opening remarks, followed by a message from Anna Herold, Head of the Audiovisual and Media Services Policy Unit of the European Commission. Laura Sboarina, Principal Analyst - Media EU at Cullen International, delivered a keynote address on media pluralism as a pillar of democracy. 

The Media Board in action
Representatives of the Media Board’s four Working Groups discussed, moderated by the Head of Media at Cullen International, Michèle Ledger, the implementation of the European media regulatory framework and the Media Board’s current activities, followed by an open exchange with stakeholders’ representatives. The Working Groups and their representatives are:

• Working Group 1: Audiovisual Media Regulation, Eszter Bako (CSA);
• Working Group 2: Media Freedom and Pluralism, Francesco Sciacchitano (AGCOM);
• Working Group 3: Protection of Citizens, Stanislav Matejka (CMS);
• Working Group 4: Effective Cooperation, Aoife MacEvilly (CnaM).

The forthcoming review of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive was a recurring theme throughout the Forum. Discussions addressed how the European audiovisual framework can respond to technological and market developments, including issues related to the prominence and discoverability of media content, the sustainability of the sector and a level playing field across the evolving media ecosystem.

High-level panel
Representatives from across the European media ecosystem and civil society discussed the current state of media pluralism and media sustainability. The panel, moderated by the Vice President of the CNMC and member of the Steering Group of the Media Board, Ángel García Castillejo, brought together:

• Wouter Gekiere, Head of Brussels Office, European Broadcasting Union (EBU);
• Erard Gilles, Senior Director, Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT);
• Iacob Gammeltoft, Senior Policy Manager, News Media Europe (NME);
• Aedín Conboy, Senior Public Policy and Government Relations Manager, TikTok;
• Thibaut Bruttin, Director General, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The discussion highlighted the close relationship between media pluralism and the economic sustainability of the sector, while allowing stakeholders to share different perspectives on issues including media prominence, changing advertising markets, online distribution, artificial intelligence, media market concentrations and the relationship between media services and online platforms.

Preliminary orientations for the 2027 Work Programme 
Finally, Martin Ajdari, Vice-Chair of the Media Board, presented preliminary orientations for the Media Board’s 2027 Work Programme, reflecting input received from stakeholders.

Four broad objectives are currently under consideration: contributing to the economic sustainability of the media sector and a level playing field; promoting the appropriate visibility of media and access to diverse and reliable content; protecting audiences, particularly in the online environment; and providing an evidence-based contribution to European media policy discussions. The AVMSD review is expected to be a key area of the Board’s work in this context.

In her closing remarks, Amma Asante stressed the importance of maintaining an ongoing dialogue between the Media Board and stakeholders beyond the Forum itself.