mediadienstenwetten

mediadienstenwetten, letterlijk vertaald 'laws on media services', is a term used in Dutch-speaking jurisdictions to describe a family of national statutes that regulate audiovisual media services. These laws typically cover traditional broadcast broadcasters, cable and satellite, and increasingly on-demand and online platforms. They aim to safeguard media pluralism, protect viewers, particularly children, ensure transparency in funding and ownership, and facilitate fair competition in the media market. They also implement public-interest obligations for public service broadcasters and set standards for advertising, privacy, and accessibility. In the European Union, mediadienstenwetten are often shaped by the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and require transposition into national law; many states update their laws to reflect new services and technologies, including streaming platforms and video-sharing sites.

Common features include licensing or registration of media service providers, content and program standards, quotas for European works, and watershed rules for advertising. They may impose limits on commercial breaks, mandatory subtitling or sign language, and age classifications. They regulate platform responsibility for user-generated content and require transparency about ownership and funding. Enforcement is carried out by national media authorities or regulators, which can impose sanctions, revoke licenses, or require corrective actions for non-compliance.

Examples of national implementations include the Netherlands' Mediawet, Belgium's mediadecreet, and Germany's Rundfunkstaatsvertrag, among others. These laws are periodically revised to respond to market developments, such as online streaming, global platforms, and cross-border media services.