Interoperability, standards and sustainable receiver markets in the European Union

This article1 addresses a recent debate undertaken by the European institutions on the interoperability of interactive television (iTV) receivers. The debate centred on whether it would be appropriate to mandate the MHP standards for iTV in order to enforce interoperability in support of media pluralism. The article argues that the role of interoperability has changed - owing to newer concepts such as access - and that it is no longer realistic in an EU of 25 Member States to achieve interoperability through a single receiver standard for any technical function. Improved co-ordination and implementation by market players could reduce the risks of market failure attached to the launch of new receiver products in horizontal retail markets. Grouped implementation by Member States could help to leverage supranational economies of scale and to overcome market fragmentation.