Brussels, 31/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - Cross-border access to online content is still not common practice in the European Union, a Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission on Friday 28 August has revealed. The Commission is looking to change this state of affairs and to ensure improved portability of legal subscriptions as part of the review of copyright rules due before the end of the year. The Eurobarometer survey gathered information on people's experience of online content in general and experience and level of interest in cross-border portability of online subscriptions and cross-border access to online content. Updating of copyright rules forms part of the key initiatives announced by the Commission on 6 May in its digital single market strategy, bringing it more into line with Europeans' online behaviour (see EUROPE 11309).
The Eurobarometer survey was carried out in the 28 member states between 7 and 15 January 2015. Some 26,586 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed. A number of conclusions are drawn:
Growing interest in having access to online content in another member state. One European in three would like to be able to use his/her subscription to watch films, listen to music, play games or read e-books when travelling in another EU country. The proportion is even higher among young people (58% of 15-24 year-olds and 46% of 25-39 year-olds).
Difficulty in accessing cross-border online content. 56% of Europeans who have tried to access a service meant for users in another EU country have met problems. In particular, 27% had only limited access to content and could not access or download what they wanted.
Music and films are the most sought content. The content most accessed or downloaded was music (60%) and audio-visual content (excluding sports) (59%), followed by video games (37%), sports (35%) and ebooks (27%).
A quarter of Europeans watch content in English. Most respondents (62%) say they only watch films or series that have either audio or subtitles in their country's language(s). However, 26% in non English-speaking member states say they are comfortable watching films or series with English audio or subtitles. (Isabelle Lamberty)