Press Release: Television without frontiers: the European Commission takes the next step in proceedings against Spain for not complying with television advertising restrictions

The Commission sent Spain a reasoned opinion for failing to comply with the television advertising rules in the Television without frontiers Directive. The infringement procedure, started in July 2007, was based on a monitoring report that found that the main TV channels in Spain, both publicly funded and commercial, failed regularly and by some margin to restrict advertising and teleshopping spots to 12 minutes per clock hour. The purpose of this limit, which is maintained in the new Directive on Audiovisual Media Services without frontiers, is to prevent audiences having their viewing interrupted by too much advertising and to promote quality television across Europe.