Cross-border access to online content : summary

The development of digital technology has provided a range of opportunities for both social and economic growth across Europe. The digital economy is developing rapidly worldwide as the single most important driver of innovation, competitiveness and growth. It is growing at a rate that is up to seven times faster than growth in other sectors of the economy. The Juncker Commission has identified the completion of the Digital Single Market as one of its top 10 political priorities. The modernisation of EU copyright rules is one of the reforms announced in this context and forms part of the Commission's 2015 work programme. The need to adapt copyright rules to evolving consumer behaviour in the digital environment is one of the drivers of this reform. In particular, the Commission aims to enable Europeans to access the online services they want on the devices of their choice, wherever they are in Europe. This report provides information on the current experience of Europeans with a range of online digital content and services, as well as their attitudes towards cross-border use of digital content and services on the Internet. It explores a range of areas, including: The proportion of Europeans who use the Internet, and the devices they use to connect to the Internet; Frequency and type of access to a range of digital content, including audio-visual content, sports, music, video games and e-books; Perceptions of the availability of different types of content on the Internet; Cross-border portability of online subscriptions to digital services; Experiences in accessing digital content across borders; Reasons why Europeans do or do not try to access online content in other Member States. This survey was carried out by TNS Political & Social network in the 28 Member States of the European Union between 7 and 15 January 2015. Some 26,586 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed via telephone (landline and mobile phone) in their mother tongue on behalf of the European Commission, DG for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). The methodology used is that of Eurobarometer surveys as carried out by the Directorate-General for Communication ("Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer" Unit). A technical note on the manner in which interviews were conducted by the Institutes within the TNS Political & Social network is appended as an annex to this report. Also included are the interview methods and confidence intervals.