Media Convergence

Convergence can be understood as the progressive merging of traditional broadcast and internet content.

When people speak about convergence and Connected TV, they often refer to TV sets that are connected to the Internet. However, in policy discussions the term is used in a broader sense to reflect the progressive convergence in the audiovisual sector.

Viewing possibilities today extend from TV sets with added internet connectivity to set-top boxes delivering video content, to audiovisual media services provided via computers, tablets and other mobile devices. 

Attention is no longer focused on one screen only. In parallel to watching TV, viewers can use tablets or smartphones to browse the Internet for more information or to chat with friends about the show.

"Second screen" applications on these devices offer the prospect of "social TV" which delivers a more interactive experience for the consumer. They also offer new revenue streams for the content provider. And, many of today's devices not only facilitate consumption but give consumers an easy option to create their own content.

All these developments make convergence more and more visible in our daily lives. The Commission therefore adopted a Green Paper preparing for a fully converged audiovisual world: Growth, creation and values.

The Green Paper invited stakeholders to share their views on the changing media landscape and borderless internet. In particular, stakeholders were invited to share their views on market conditions, interoperability, infrastructure, and implications for EU rules. The European Commission published a feedback document as well as an executive summary of the replies in September 2014.