RESOLUTION B3-0604/93

Resolution on the HDTV strategy of the European Community

The European Parliament,

A.whereas the purpose of the Community HDTV strategy was gradually to introduce HD-quality TV in Europe,

B.whereas this was to be achieved by establishing a family of norms (D-MAC, D2-MAC, HD-MAC) through support for research and development and through stimuli for service providers (satellite and cable companies, producers) to enable them to adjust to the development of these European norms,

C.whereas the family of norms did not, among other things, cover terrestrial transmission, through which 80 percent of consumers receive their television signals, nor did it open up the prospect of development of digital HDTV which is considered to be the HDTV system which will in time become the world standard,

D.whereas Parliament supported the Commission's strategy as an intermediate step, but at the same time opened the road to a digital development,

E.whereas the Community strategy was blocked in Council, where the required unanimity was lacking,

F.whereas the Commission now apparently intends to support any development that improves TV quality, and the only common factor appears to be a 16 x 9 widescreen format,

G.whereas the conversion to 16:9 does at all events represent a step which will make the later conversion to HDTV less problematic but which will be expensive for the purveyors of programmes;

1.Does not accept a radical revision of the Community HDTV-strategy without a proper formal reconsultation of the European Parliament;

2.Has serious doubts about an HDTV strategy that makes a 16 x 9 widescreen format the stepping stone on the road to digital HDTV, which will be the world HDTV-standard in the near future;

3.Is of the opinion that a widescreen format might have its own merit, but has no relation with HDTV, so that an HDTV strategy based on widescreen format is gravely deficient;

4.Calls therefore for a reworking of the HD-MAC directive with the aim of making it independent of D2-MAC and HD-MAC;

5.Fears that an enhanced definition strategy based solely on a common format means a continuation and even further proliferation of the existing broadcasting norms and therefore of market divisions within the Community; fears that before the end of next year the Community might be divided between Pal-plus, Secam-plus, D2-MAC and Standard Digital;

6.Is seriously worried that neither Pal-plus, nor Secam-plus, nor D2-MAC could develop into digital HDTV; is equally worried that Standard Digital, which could be developed into enhanced and further into HD-digital, will be adopted by satellite companies for reasons (bandwidth) that run completely counter to a further development towards HD-digital;

7.Does not approve of this free market approach, which denies the role of the public authorities in setting standards and in preventing market splintering, a role which the Japanese Government clearly recognises and which the US Government has delegated to the Federal Communication Commission - thereby achieving a digital HDTV-norm in the USA this year;

8.Reiterates its request for a communication on the state of progress of high-definition television and on the role of the 16:9 format as a way of achieving digital television;

9.Demands from the Commission proposals for a real digital HDTV-strategy. This strategy should consist of the development of a common European norm for both terrestrial and satellite transmission, which should be open enough for (backward-compatible) technical upgrading; the strategy should provide for close cooperation between researchers, producers, service providers and consumer representatives; it should be conditional on a full commitment by the Member States to cooperate loyally, and the decision-making should be fully transparent;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.