Digital Single Market: don't miss your favourite show abroad

The European Parliament will take another step towards achieving the Digital Single Market. The plenary will vote on a deal with the Council regarding a Regulation on the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market. The new set of rules will be beneficial to consumers and at the same time give legal certainty to the providers of the online content.

“Subscribers to internet media content will be guaranteed access to their subscription for online music, film or sport broadcast services during their travels to another Member State on a temporary basis. Imagine - you won’t miss a football match or your favourite TV show because you are on holiday in another Member State”, said Angelika Niebler MEP, EPP Group Spokeswoman on the dossier.

The new Regulation ensures that subscribers to online content services in the EU which are delivered to them on a portable basis, can receive these services when temporarily present in another Member State.

When enabling portability, providers of online content will verify the EU country of residence of the subscriber. The Regulation sets a closed list of permitted verification methods, including checks on electronic identification, payment details or IP addresses. It goes without saying that the customer will be informed of the verification measures and their personal data will be protected.

“We expect that as from next Spring, Europeans can travel across the European Union with their online subscriptions. We are getting closer to the real Digital Single Market in the EU”, concluded Niebler.