Brussels, 13/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Association of Commercial Television In Europe (ACT) has welcomed the European Parliament vote on 12 March on convergence in the audiovisual sector (see EUROPE 11037). According to ACT, the Parliament has sent out an important message on the need to adopt a long-term vision for the audiovisual sector so that it can provide both excellence and innovation. Although off and online audiovisual services are booming with 3,000 online services and 10,000 television channels in Europe, scheduled TV remains at an all-time high. ACT is therefore calling on the European Commission not to turn the current audiovisual media legislation upside down, but rather examine the long-term scenario, which the Parliament also advocates in its report. Although the Parliament is highlighting the need to maintain quality content, ACT points out that commercial TV has always sought to provide quality content and will continue to do so. Ross Biggam, the director-general of ACT, stated that “the sustainability of the current financing models for content production must be at the heart of the Commission's debate, not regulation per se”. (IL)