FIAPF is at the forefront of the debate around the dangers of undermining the ability for the audiovisual sector to agree territorial exclusivity.
“The Internet is global, the European Union is a single marketplace, consumers want to access content available in other territories”. These assertions are often heard in the public debate, especially in Europe. However, they ignore that territorial exclusivity is the backbone of the financing and distribution models of our industry.
Consumers’ welfare and satisfaction are a priority for our industry, including in terms of providing access to the widest catalogue of content across the widest possible range of distribution options.
Never have so many films and TV programmes been accessible through legal offer offline and online in national markets. We are and will continue to embrace all distribution opportunities also in the future.
Territoriality fuels investments in production
It is our ability to finance: making a film or a TV series/drama requires a massive level of investment long before the final work reaches the audience. The creative and financial risk is shared between co-producers and distributors who acquire rights for their respective territory. Without the freedom to agree territorial exclusivity, there would be no or less investment from financial partners, future distributors across all distribution channels, and as a result less production made, less diversity in content and less choice for consumers.
Territoriality fuels investments in distribution
Territoriality is an engine for diversity in content
Territoriality is an engine for diversity in content and in legal offer across all distribution channels. Responsible public policy seeks to promote the widest possible access to new content and back catalogue content in each territory. Such an approach promotes healthy local production and distribution, local jobs and skills at territory level – which we need to secure our industry’s resilience during and after the COVID-19 pandemic – it also permits our industry to offer tailor-made offer and connection with consumers.