It is now official. You will no longer miss out on your favorite films, TV series, sports broadcasts, games or eBooks, to which you are digitally subscribed in your home country while travelling abroad.
From this week, accessing a portable digital service in another Member State will be like at home.
Until last month, many European consumers could not access online content services they had legally bought in their home country when travelling across the EU. Now thisis history, sinceafter months of workthe European Union reached a deal on freedom of creativity covering all value chain in today’s digital world; assuring that the interest of both creators and consumers would be upheld.
It is now possible for users to access content services that they have paid for, via a subscription or through individual purchases, when travelling or staying temporarily in another EU country. This means that the new rules will enable us to watch films or sporting events, listen to music, download e-books or play games when visiting or staying temporarily in other EU countries, like in our own country.
Concretely, if we take Netflix for example, we will now have access to the same selection anywhere in the EU, if temporarily abroad, just as if you were at home. Because providers of online content services will be able to facilitate cross-border portability of online content to their subscribers without having to acquire licenses for other territories where the subscribers stay temporarily.Consequently, online content services will not be allowed to impose additional charges on subscribers for providing cross-border portability of their content.
Gone are the days where we have to remember to download a film before leaving for a trip in another EU country.
The development is certainly welcome news for young Europeans, 60% of whom say that being able to travel with their subscriptions is an important factor in choosing to subscribe to online services.
As EU legislators we are constantly seeking ways how to facilitate the full realization of the digital revolution through enhancement of our Digital Service Infrastructures and broadband networks.
We are leveraging policy sectors to reach convergence of ICT, media and telecommunications industry services towards progressing mergers between online and broadcast content, whose result is online content on the TV screen and broadcast content on the PC, mobile phone or tablet.
The interweaving of digital service infrastructures and cross border broadband networks will stimulate Europe's economy and help Europe's citizens and businesses to get the most out of these technologies.
Only less than a month ago I got Google strategists to travel to Malta to provide free-of-charge training to local musicians, businesses, creative individuals and artists who want to promote their work on You Tube.
As a follow up to that, being an MEP passionate on the subject,I am still pushing my way through to see Maltaas part of the YouTube Partnership Programme. I very muchshare the enthusiasm of fellow citizens who want to communicate with people also through these platforms.
That is why I share the impressions of the majority of participants of last month’s training conference I organized with You Tube, who said that events like these are a solid starting point for us to grow as a country in the digital world.
I eagerly look forward to contribute further towards the facilitation of new developments in technology which, in particular, turn the risk of a digital divide into "digital cohesion" for all segments of the population.
As much as I have been there for artists, creators, cultural stakeholders, publishers and tech enthusiasts I will be there also for disadvantaged segments like those who are educationally impaired, elderly and less abled in our society to reap benefits of e-Competences, e-Ageing and e-Accessibility; by continuing to give my contribution towards breaking down barriers of digital divide like we did for so many European citizens as of this week through the portability of content.