CALENDAR.

*Public audiovisuals in the face of concentrations and diversificationThe Belgian Presidency is to organise a seminar on public audiovisuals on November 15 and 16 at the European Parliament. The development of the audiovisual sector is subject to two apparently contradictory forces: the diversification of choice and means of access available to final spectators and the concentration of ownership in the various segments of the information chain. Concentration and diversification can go in hand and be mutually beneficial. There is in effect a logic in controlling the entire value chain to minimise risks and seek to diversify activities and maximise profits.Faced with such an evolution, which appears inevitable given economies of scale and range characterising the audiovisual market, public broadcasters have also begun to diversify their activities: a range of public thematic channels have thus emerged, and almost all public broadcasters now have their own Internet gateway from which they offer a multitude of services.The seminar on November 15-16 proposes to review the current situation regarding mergers, to examine the consequences of control of the means of access to digital broadcasting systems, and to look at the capacity of existing competition law to resolve these questions and the role of public broadcasters as a counterweight and reference pole for quality, pluralistic and impartial programming. It will also review strategies implemented by broadcasters to diversify their activities and examine the contribution of diversification to their public service mission.*The place of SMEs in the Sixth Framework ProgrammeA conference organised by the Wallon region in the scope of the Belgian presidency of the EU, in association with the European Commission, is to examine the role of SMEs...

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