Study on the role of SMEs and European audiovisual works in the context of the fast changing and converging home entertainment sector (PayTV, Homevideo, Video on Demand, video games, internet, etc) : final report.

The aim of this study is to identify the challenges and opportunities facing the European home entertainment sector as a whole and to make recommendations on how the MEDIA Programme can help European SMEs and audiovisual works make the most of current changes. The first part of this report provides an overview about current home entertainment practices and market trends in Europe on the one hand, and about the role of European audiovisual SMEs active in this sector and of European audiovisual works on the other hand. This analysis is necessary in order to draw a clear picture (both in terms of breadth – various countries and segments - as of depth – practices, industry, market and legal base) of the European home entertainment sector. Building on this analysis, the report then focuses on challenges and opportunities brought about by new distribution platforms for European audiovisual works and for the European SMEs of the home entertainment sector. It formulates a series of recommendation on how the European Commission should take these into account in the context of its policies and actions in favour of the audiovisual industries and its SMEs.