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With the transposition of Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), more EU Member States decided to introduce investment obligations for non-domestic VOD providers, also known as “Netflix taxes”. This chapter explores the key features of investment obligations as regulatory tools that are supposed to remove the asymmetry between linear and nonlinear providers. An area of front-rank importance for policy intervention with the investment obligations is ensuring rights retention by independent producers and reducing tensions in contractual relationships with global providers of VOD services. We show how investment obligations may be used not only to increase financial support for European works but also to ensure that rights arrangements between independent producers and global VOD providers are fit for purpose.

With implications for the content we watch, listen to and enjoy everyday, the future of broadcasting touches upon our collective imagination and identities. It also presents legislative challenges and powers over public service media are hotly contested, with ongoing discussions at both ends of the M4 about the potential for devolved nations to take ownership of their own broadcasting services. The IWA has collaborated with Media Cymru researchers Dr Marlen Komorowski and Enrique Uribe-Jongbloed to lead a research project assessing the current state of regulation and accountability for broadcasters in Wales, and surveying the options available for future models of regulation.

This study was conducted by the research centre SMIT (Studies on Media, Innovation and Technology) at Vrije Universiteit Brussels (http://smit.vub.ac.be/). The research was produced with the financial support of hub.brussels (see Annex 2 for more information). This research is an update study to the report “The economic impact of the cultural and creative sectors in the Brussels-Capital Region” published by hub.brussels in 2021. The previous study was conducted in 2020 and collected data before the COVID-19 pandemic up to 2018. This update study allows us now to see the development of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in the Brussels-Capital Region during the years of the pandemic and to add more data around the diversity of the CCIs workforce. For more data insights and to consult the study from 2020, please see: https://hub.brussels/en/study-the-cultural-and-creative-sector-in-brussels/ https://analytics.brussels/#!/library/product-details/575

This Policy Brief reviews some of the current public and private initiatives in the UK and in Wales, which foster Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and reports the results of our quantitative research on diversity in the creative industries and media sector. We provide evidence of how R&D can support EDI based on learning from the Clwstwr programme. Finally, we build on the policy landscape and our quantitative analyses to suggest directions for future work.

This report is an introductory exercise in Wales, aiming to develop a baseline understanding of where creative hubs are situated and what their successes, needs and challenges are. It also considers social and economic impacts of hubs and their ability to respond to global challenges. It complements the Mappings of Creative Hubs we published in 2020 for Scotland, in 2021 for England, and earlier in 2022 for Northern Ireland

This Policy Brief presents the key findings of our 2022 edition of the Study on investment obligations for VOD providers to contribute to the production of European works. The study gives a comprehensive overview of the types of investment obligations for VOD providers put in place or developed recently. It is the third edition of the Study on investment obligations for VOD providers, following the editions published in 2018 and 2021. The study aims to provide valuable insights to industry and policymakers in Europe and beyond. To that end, we also highlight recent legislative interventions coming up from the transposition of the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive. Alongside a comprehensive overview of legislative frameworks, the new edition of the study also includes perspectives on investment obligations from key European stakeholders.

This study provides a fresh look of the existing regulatory approaches that include requirements for VOD providers such as Netflix and Disney+ to invest in local content. The objective is to present insights on a range of policy approaches from EU Member States and other jurisdictions and their underpinning characteristics such as calculation methods, rates, thresholds for exemptions and enforcement procedures. To that end, we also highlight more recent legislative interventions coming up from the transposition of the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).

THIS POLICY BRIEF EXPLORES THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES SURROUNDING GREEN SCREEN SOLUTIONS AND HOW GREEN INNOVATION IN THE WELSH SCREEN SECTOR CREATES NEW POSSIBILITIES. WE DEFINE GREEN INNOVATION AS THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH NEW PRODUCTION, SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES ARE CREATED, WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

Data, records, and transactions define the structures in our public system. Yet these tools and the bureaucracies to manage these by public institutions operate still much the same way as decades ago. At the same time, governments face challenges in the digital age and must find new ways in how to create trust in their systems while handling new societal challenges. Distributed ledger technology (DLT) of which blockchain is one system has experienced in recent years a lot of attention as it offers new ways of bringing public services to citizens and businesses. Because of this, governments have started experimenting and investing in blockchain and DLT solutions for the public sector. The OECD (2018) found already more than 200 government-led blockchain initiatives in more than 40 different countries. To understand where applicability of blockchain should be considered, it is important to recognize that DLT can be seen as a form of “general purpose technology”. This is due to the infrastructural character of the technology. This means that whether DLT or blockchain is a solution to a given problem in the public sector and can impact public value can only be answered on a case-to-case basis. In this report, we present a total of 21 DLT use cases associated to each of the Dutch ministries to show potential opportunities for application in different public sectors and services in the Netherlands. The use cases analysed build the basis for a new decision-making approach, in which we highlight the different steps that can be taken by the government to identify application possibilities in the future.

Contracts, transactions, and the records of them are among the defining structures in our government and public sector. Yet these critical tools and the bureaucracies managed by public institutions operate still much the same way as decades ago. At the same time, governments face challenges in the digital age and must find new ways in how to create trust in their systems while handling societal challenges. In this context, blockchain and other Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) applications in various public sectors have experienced a lot of attention in recent years because of their potential to enable effectiveness, trust and transparency. Still, the future of DLT implementation by governments is uncertain. This policy brief presents results from a study conducted for the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) in the Netherlands in 2021. The research aimed to investigate if DLT, can be a solution to overcome new challenges. Therefore, we ask three core questions: How can DLT be applied in the public sector? What public values can be strengthened or weakened through DLT adoption? And, what next steps should governments take regarding DLT?

In this study, a delineation for the CCS is outlined that can help guide future policy making and is used for the here-applied methodology. In the second part, based on statistical data on micro firm data, the characteristics of Brussels’ CCS are outlined in order to present key economic indicators and understand the current situation, and problems in the CCS. At the end of this study, there are conclusions and recommendations outlined for improving the performance of the local CCS in Brussels.

In December 2021, the British Film Institute (BFI) published its latest Screen Business report (Screen Report)1, analysing how the tax relief granted to the screen sector in the UK affected stakeholders and the economy in 2019. The BFI Screen Report features granular and specific data for UK nations: the purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the most important data relating to Wales. Our summary also provides a comparison with the rest of the UK, focusing on two sectors: high-end television (HETV) and filmmaking.

As noted in our 2020 report, Rebalancing and Reimagining, very little data has been collected on freelancers in the performance sector in Wales, despite their representing half the cultural sector workforce in Wales. Rebalancing and Reimagining was based2 on a survey carried out during July and August 2020, and its recommendations sought to rebalance the arts sector in Wales to empower and include freelancers, especially those who have been historically marginalised. The report sparked widespread discussion, including at the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) and Welsh Government, and organisations such as National Theatre Wales, which has committed to implementing some of the report’s recommendations. 16 months after the publication of Rebalancing and Reimagining, Cultural Freelancers Wales commissioned Cardiff University’s Creative Economy Unit (CEU) to action a follow-up survey to discover how freelancers are ‘recovering’ as performance venues reopen and society adapts to the effects of the pandemic. This report provides an insight into the present moment for cultural freelancers in Wales, how they see their future, and the long-term impact of the pandemic on their finances and well-being

In dit rapport presenteren we in totaal 21 DLT-use cases die verband houden met elk van de Nederlandse ministeries om mogelijke toepassingen te tonen in verschillende publieke sectoren en diensten in Nederland. De geanalyseerde use cases vormen input voor het ontwikkelen van een mogelijk nieuwe besluitvormingsaanpak, waarin we de verschillende stappen belichten die de overheid kan nemen om de toepassingsmogelijkheden in de toekomst te identificeren. Onze bevindingen benadrukken dat DLT een bijdrage kan leveren aan de volgende publieke waarden: • de democratische waarden; • de publieke integriteit; • samenwerking en participatie; • de efficiëntie van de overheid.

This report gives a first look into the composition of the Clwstwr programme participants in terms of some of the Protected Characteristics outlined in Equality Act 2010. Our data is contextualised within the wider population of the Cardiff Capital Region using a number of existing data sources such as the Office for National Statistics and Creative Skillset’s Annual Assessment of the UK screen sector. We use population figures in this report to understand how representative we are of the creative industries and our communities. However, this is not simply our goal and we use it only as an indication of our impact. We also give a brief overview of some of the work we have undertaken to create a more inclusive programme. Our work for greater diversity across all areas will continue across the life of Clwstwr.

Media is one of the most powerful tools of communication in any nation. In today’s world, media in Wales is playing an outstanding role in not only creating and shaping of public opinion but the media in Wales also shapes modern Welsh culture. This means that media acts in the social system in creating a sense of reality in Wales. And it collectively shapes the perceptions of people and their attitude towards cultural heritage, politics and civil issues directly or indirectly in the communication interactions. It is important to highlight that media as the fourth pillar of democracy – along with the judiciary, executive and legislature - has an important role in shaping Wales today. This Media Audit 2020, provides key data on media in Wales.

This report argues that innovation ecosystems can play a key role in creating and enabling the development of innovative and digital technologies and in turn create economic growth and solve societal issues. The development of innovation ecosystems however poses risks, including for example the wrong allocation of investment, a lack in scalability of solutions, and failing to create sustainable impact. We argue that in order to build successful innovation ecosystems, governmental intervention needs to be built on a sufficient knowledge base. By mapping the innovation ecosystem landscape in the Netherlands, the report attempts to identify the strengths and barriers and possible routes for support for growth and up-scaling for innovation ecosystems. Additionally, a number of case studies of innovation ecosystems and their success factors are presented and a subsequent step-by step approach for innovation ecosystem development is outlined.

This Policy Brief presents the key findings of our latest report “A European comparison of obligations on VOD providers to financially contribute to the production of European works”. Building on our report from 2018, the study shows that much has already changed in the media policy landscape and that there are increasing steps taken within Member States to oblige companies that benefit from the distribution of European audiovisual content to also contribute to content production, regardless of the market in which they are based. The findings presented here can support policymakers within and outside the EU that want to introduce or adopt financial obligations for VOD providers in their countries or regions.

This is a platform to showcase the creative might of Wales: to highlight its strengths and explore its depths, to help make connections and to be a useful tool for those who want to learn more about Wales’ creative ecosystem. This atlas is a work in progress and will continue to evolve and grow as the creative industries do.

This Policy Brief is built on the findings of a Clwstwr funded project, drawing on data collected from focus groups, the development of innovative prototypes and extensive user testing of over a thousand audience members. We find that by focusing on content that is genuinely useful to readers and viewers, using linear narratives, providing broader context, and giving users more agency in how they engage with stories, it is clearly possible to provide news which is trusted, informative and engages audiences from all demographics. This Policy Brief introduces seven building blocks of reflective journalism and suggests multiple new ways of narrative storytelling that point the way to more effective forms of news.

THIS REPORT ANALYSES IN DETAIL, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE SIZE, SCALE AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE MEDIA SECTOR IN THE CARDIFF CAPITAL REGION (CCR). IT LOOKS AT THE CCR’S MEDIA SECTOR IN A UK AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT AND CONSIDERS STRATEGIES FOR MAINTAINING STRONG LEVELS OF GROWTH.

The latest revision of the Audiovisual Media Services directive (AVMSd) came into force in autumn 2018. The revised directive aims to strengthen European culture and clarifies the rules for investment obligations, i.e. the obligations for on-demand audiovisual media services (VOD) to contribute financially to the production of European works. For the first time, the directive also allows Member States to capture on-demand players that are targeting domestic audiences but are located outside of their borders (such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc.). Building on our report from 2018, the study shows that much has already changed in the media policy landscape and that there are increasing steps taken within Member States to oblige companies that benefit from the distribution of European audiovisual content to also contribute to content production, regardless of the market in which they are based. The findings presented here can support policymakers within and outside the EU that want to introduce or adopt financial obligations for VOD providers in their countries or regions.

Chapter 4.3 (pages 38-53)

Europe has been facing unprecedented challenges from COVID-19. Providing citizens with accurate, timely and frequent information about the health risks posed by COVID-19, as well as measures they can take to protect themselves, is key to mitigating the spread of the virus. Social media can, in this context, become an essential tool as it allows us to reach and engage a large number of people. But, social media can also be misused to spread misinformation. This policy brief critically questions what potential role social media play in informing Europe’s population about the COVID-19 pandemic. Using more than 50,000 tweets, we analyse who has an impact on the discussions surrounding COVID-19 on social media in Europe. With this study, we seek to contribute to the debate on the problems, but also the benefits of social media for the spread of information.

This report examines how a range of creative businesses view Brexit - their hopes and fears, as well as some of the practical business implications. We found high levels of concern about Brexit’s potential impact among creative businesses in Wales, with four out of five creative businesses expressing concern.