COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

EU Extends Broadcast Quota Directive: Backing France’s call to continue restrictive quotas on Hollywood imports, the European Union agreed to extend the restrictive system and make enforcement easier. In a compromise move, the 15 EU culture ministers decided to continue for at least five years the essence of the current Television Without Frontiers measure, which limits non-European imports to less than 50% of air time on EU screens. The “political agreement” will become official only after the European Parliament considers it. Although Hollywood has no objections to government subsidies for the EU’s beleaguered movie and television industry, it has always strongly opposed quotas, arguing that they kill competition.