Connect Europe and the GSMA have submitted their views to the European Commission’s public consultation on the evaluation of the Geo-blocking Regulation, warning that any extension of the rules to audiovisual (AV) services would have negative consequences for consumers, the creative industry and cultural diversity in Europe.

Representing the European telecommunications sector, the two organisations stress that audiovisual services should remain outside the scope of the Geo-blocking Regulation, as is currently the case under Article 1(3). They argue that territorial exclusivity licensing is a cornerstone of Europe’s audiovisual ecosystem, enabling producers and distributors to finance new content, manage risks and invest in local productions.

According to Connect Europe and the GSMA, territorial licensing allows producers to secure funding through pre-sales and co-productions, supports diverse distribution models and enables content to be tailored to local audiences. Citing an Oxera study, they note that 92% of industry players consider territorial exclusivity essential to the functioning of their business.

The organisations also warn that including copyright-protected audiovisual works in the Geo-blocking Regulation could lead to higher prices and reduced choice for consumers, particularly in lower-income EU member states. They argue that forcing multi-territory access could undermine the economic viability of licensing in certain markets and ultimately increase costs for end users.

In addition, Connect Europe and the GSMA caution that such a move would mainly benefit large, non-European global content platforms, accelerating market concentration and weakening the position of European broadcasters, distributors and producers. This, they say, could reduce competition, limit consumer choice and increase the risk of market dominance.

The submission further highlights the potential negative impact on cultural diversity and European co-productions. Restricting territorial licensing would make it harder to finance new films and series, reduce production volumes and budgets, and threaten initiatives designed to support European co-productions.

Connect Europe and the GSMA conclude that maintaining the current framework is essential to preserve investment, cultural diversity and consumer choice, urging policymakers to keep audiovisual services outside the scope of any revision of the Geo-blocking Regulation.