IGF 2023 WS #149 VoD Regulation: Fair Contribution & Local Content

Time
Tuesday, 10th October, 2023 (01:30 UTC) - Tuesday, 10th October, 2023 (03:00 UTC)
Room
WS 3 – Annex Hall 2
Subtheme

Global Digital Governance & Cooperation
Governing Digital Economy

Organizer 1: Ichiro Mizukoshi, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation

Speaker 1: Ichiro Mizukoshi, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Toshiya Jitsuzumi, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Nami Yonetani, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group

Additional Speakers

Cho Changeun, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

Moderator

Ichiro Mizukoshi, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

Online Moderator

Ichiro Mizukoshi, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

Rapporteur

Ichiro Mizukoshi, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

Format

Panel - 90 Min

Policy Question(s)

A. How can Fair Contribution regulations ensure a balanced and equitable sharing of network investments between VoD operators and telecommunications carriers? B. What are the potential benefits and challenges of implementing Local Content Contribution regulations to promote local cultural representation and support domestic creative industries? C. What implications do these regulatory proposals have for the future growth and competitiveness of the VoD industry, and how can stakeholders adapt to navigate the changing regulatory landscape?

What will participants gain from attending this session? Attending this session will give participants valuable insights into the regulatory landscape surrounding Video-on-Demand (VoD) operators. They will comprehensively understand the Fair Contribution and Local Content Contribution regulations being discussed in various regions. Participants will learn about the motivations driving these regulations and their potential impact on the VoD industry. They will also be able to engage in thought-provoking discussions regarding the future regulatory landscape, exploring the evolving dynamics between VoD operators, telecommunications carriers, content creators, and regulatory frameworks. Ultimately, with a deeper understanding of VoD regulations, attendees will leave the session being able to navigate and adapt to the changing landscape of VoD industry.

SDGs

Description:

In the digital realm, Video-on-Demand (VoD) platforms such as Amazon PrimeVideo, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Sling TV, and YouTube Premium hold immense influence, with a staggering 1.72 billion global subscribers in 2021. As video content accounts for a significant portion of internet traffic, VoD operators have emerged as vital players in the online sphere. Two regulations concerning VoD operators are being discussed, particularly in Korea and Europe. The first regulation, Fair Contribution, proposes that VoD operators share the network investment burden incurred by telecommunications carriers to manage the growing data traffic. Recognizing their pivotal role, this measure emphasizes the operators' responsibility in addressing infrastructure demands. The second regulation, Local Content Contribution, imposes local content quotas and financial investment obligations for local content on VoD operators. Authorities are resorting to such regulations to protect local creative industries against the encroachment of global VoD operators and of foreign media industries. In this session, we will provide an overview of these regulations and delve into their background, aiming to illuminate their motivations and potential implications. Join us as we explore the evolving relationship between VoD operators, telecommunications carriers, local content creators, and regulatory as well as cultural frameworks. We will discuss the future regulatory landscape and engage in thought-provoking conversations about the path forward for this critical sector.

Expected Outcomes

Expected outcome: Enhanced understanding: Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the Fair Contribution and Local Content Contribution regulations, including their motivations, potential impact, and implications for the VoD industry. Specific Outputs: Stakeholder networks: The session will allow participants to connect and form networks, fostering ongoing collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and dialogue on VoD regulations and related matters.

Hybrid Format: This session is designed as an interactive and participative session. Each speaker's presentation will be followed by a short question-and-answer period, and we will also use Slido.com to create a quick poll to aggregate and share the voices of our participants.