Brief
EU media policy chief calls for larger European producers to match US rivals
At the MIA Market in Rome, the EU’s media policy director warned that European producers must become financially robust to face competition from US studios and digital platforms.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Giuseppe Abbamonte, director for media policy at the European Commission, told delegates at the MIA Market in Rome on Monday that European producers need larger, financially stronger companies to compete with U.S. studios, streamers and platforms such as YouTube. He said the sector must shift from financing individual projects to investing in companies that can take on risk and protect original intellectual property.
What happened
The MIA Market opened with a panel on EU‑wide audiovisual policy, focusing on how European producers can collaborate amid a global market reshaped by consolidation and acquisitions. Abbamonte highlighted the pressure from American rivals, noting that U.S. digital platforms are increasingly drawing audiences away from traditional linear TV. He urged that European producers secure foreign financing while retaining control of their IP.
What the reports add
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Comcast‑owned Sky is set to acquire ITV’s broadcast and streaming operations in the United Kingdom for $2.1 billion. It also reported that Germany’s RTL is merging its free‑to‑air broadcaster with Sky Deutschland, which Comcast recently bought. Additionally, Italy’s MediaForEurope took control of Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 last year, adding it to a growing European stable that already includes Mediaset and Spain’s Telecinco.
What was said
"We must invest in companies, not just in projects. European companies should be more robust from a financial viewpoint, and able to take on risks and compete with international competitors," Abbamonte told the MIA Market, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
How it came about
The call for larger European producers follows a series of cross‑border deals that have reshaped the continent’s media landscape. Earlier this year, Anton Studios took a minority stake in The Creatives, a pan‑European production collective, strengthening its financial base (Felo coverage). These moves illustrate a broader trend of consolidation aimed at giving European content creators the scale needed to compete globally.
Key facts
- Giuseppe Abbamonte said European producers need larger, financially robust companies to compete with US rivals. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Comcast-owned Sky is acquiring ITV's broadcast and streaming operations for $2.1 billion. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- RTL in Germany is merging its free‑to‑air broadcaster with Sky Deutschland. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- MediaForEurope took control of Germany's ProSiebenSat.1 last year, adding it to a European media stable. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Sources
- [1] hollywoodreporter.com — originally reported as “European Producers Must Get Bigger to Compete, Says EU Policy Chief: “We Must Invest in Companies””
