The MEDIA Programme Unit at the European Commission has published a Study on the role of SMEs and European audiovisual works in the context of the fast changing and converging home entertainment sector (PayTV, home video, video on demand, video games, internet, etc).

The study aims to identify the challenges and opportunities facing the European home entertainment sector as a whole and to make recommendations on how the European Commission can help European SMEs and audiovisual works make the most of current changes.

The first part of this report provides an overview of the current home entertainment market by describing practices, market trends, key players and the legal framework in different segments of the sector and across different territories. The report then focuses on challenges and opportunities brought about by new technologies such as new distribution platforms for European audiovisual works and SMEs active in the home entertainment sector.

Finally, it formulates a series of recommendations on how the European Commission could take these into account in the context of its policies and actions in favour of the audiovisual and home entertainment sector and its SMEs.

To download the Executive Summary of the report click here.  For full text click here.