EU Broadcasters Urge Regulation of Apple TV and Siri as Gatekeepers Under DMA
In a significant move, the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) has called upon the European Commission to classify smart TV platforms and virtual assistants, including Apple’s Apple TV and Siri, as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This request underscores growing concerns about the influence these technologies wield over content distribution and audience access.
Broadcasters’ Concerns Over Market Control
ACT, representing major broadcasters such as Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sky, and TF1 Groupe, argues that a select few operators are increasingly capable of shaping outcomes for millions by controlling access to audiences and content distribution. They emphasize the necessity for the European Commission to designate major TV operating systems as gatekeepers to ensure fairness and contestability in the market.
Implications for Apple TV and Siri
The broadcasters’ appeal specifically targets platforms like Apple TV and virtual assistants such as Siri. They express concerns that companies like Apple may have incentives to keep users within their ecosystems, potentially restricting linking or redirection to external content. This mirrors ongoing debates about the App Store’s practices, which have already been scrutinized under the DMA.
The Digital Markets Act and Its Reach
The DMA aims to promote fair competition by regulating large tech companies that act as gatekeepers in digital markets. While the Act has already addressed issues related to app stores and other digital services, the inclusion of smart TVs and virtual assistants would mark a significant expansion of its scope.
Broader Industry Support
The letter to the European Commission was also signed by other industry groups, including the Association of European Radios (AER), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the European association of television and radio sales houses (egta), Confindustria Radio Televisioni (CRTV), Televisión Comercial en Abierto (UTECA), and Verband Österreichischer Privatsender (VOP). This collective action highlights a unified stance among European broadcasters on the need for regulatory oversight of emerging digital platforms.
Potential Impact on Apple
If the European Commission designates Apple TV and Siri as gatekeepers under the DMA, Apple could face new regulatory requirements aimed at ensuring fair competition and preventing the abuse of market dominance. This could lead to changes in how Apple operates these services within the European market.
Conclusion
The push by European broadcasters to have smart TVs and virtual assistants regulated under the DMA reflects broader concerns about the concentration of power in digital markets. As the European Commission considers this request, the outcome could have significant implications for companies like Apple and the future landscape of digital content distribution in Europe.
