The Wider Spectrum Group (WSG) brings together several organisations representing civil society as well as employee and employer representatives. Together these organisations represent the interests of listeners and viewers, workers and businesses in the field of audiovisual, radio, live performances, programme-making and special events. WSG members share a common view on the need to ensure European and national policies regarding frequency allocation preserves the potential for European growth, innovation and sustainable employment.
Read our Shared Vision here | See mentions of the WSG in the press here and our most recent communications here
About the Association of European Radios: The Association of European Radios (AER) is a Europe-wide trade body representing the interests of over 4,500 private/commercial radio stations across the EU27 and in Switzerland. AER's main objective is to develop and improve the most suitable framework for private commercial radio activity. AER constantly follows EU actions in the fields of media, telecommunications and private radio transmission, in order to contribute, to enrich and develop the radio sector.
Contact | Francesca Fabbri | Association Manager | francesca.fabbri(AT)aereurope.org
About the Association of Professional Wireless Production Technologies: The APWPT promotes, on an international level, the efficient and demand-driven provision and use of production frequencies for professional event productions, as well as safeguarding such production frequencies for professional users, in the longer term.
Contact | Jochen Zenthöfer | Co-President | office(AT)apwpt.org
About AUC: The Association of Communication Users (Asociación de Usuarios de la Comunicación - AUC) is a non-profit and independent Spanish organization, whose main aim is to defend the interests of citizens as users of the mass media, receivers of the messages disseminated by them and possible "targets" of their content.
About Broadcast Networks Europe: BNE is a trade organisation for Terrestrial Broadcast Network Operators for Radio and TV in Europe based in Brussels. BNE’s 16 members operate in 19 European countries. Members are Cellnex (Spain), Arqiva (UK), České Radiokomunikace (Czech Republic), Digea (Greece), Elettronica Industriale (Italy), Emitel (Poland), JP ETV (Serbia), Media Broadcast (Germany), Norkring (Norway), OiV (Croatia), ORS (Austria), Swisscom Broadcast (Switzerland), Radiocom (Romania), 2RN (Ireland), TDF (France) and Teracom (Sweden). In addition, Terrestrial Network Operators in Belgium, Estonia, and Monaco are represented by their respective parent (and BNE member) company.
Contact | Lars Backlund | Secretary General | lars.backlund(AT)broadcast-networks.eu
About CEPI: The European Coordination of Independent Producers (CEPI) represents the interests of independent television and film production companies in Europe. Today, CEPI represents 18 national trade associations across Europe and is the only European organisation to include members from both the television and film sectors.
Contact | Mathilde Fiquet | Secretary General | mathilde.fiquet(AT)europe-analytica.com
About Digital UK: Digital UK manages strategy, policy and service development for digital terrestrial television (DTT) – the UK’s biggest platform used in 19 million homes. Digital UK is owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Arqiva and is leading the development of Freeview Play, a new hybrid platform bringing together free to view DTT and catch up services in a range of TVs and set-top boxes.
Contact | Steve Gettings | Head of Strategy and Policy | steve.gettings(AT)digitaluk.co.uk
About European Broadcasting Union: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the world’s foremost alliance of Public Service Media, providing television, radio and online services. The EBU has 73 active members in 56 countries in Europe and beyond. The organisation provides technical expertise in order to drive media innovation and coproduction across every entertainment genre and advocate the values of Public Service Media organisations.
Contact | Vincent Sneed | European Policy Adviser | sneed(AT)ebu.ch
About EURALVA: is the European Alliance of Listeners’ and Viewers’ Associations, an independent non-sectarian alliance of national associations, representing the interest of listeners and viewers of broadcasting and new media services, which can be received in member states of the Council of Europe.
About the European Federation of Journalists: The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is the largest organisation of journalists in Europe, representing over 320.000 journalists in 60 journalists’ organisations across 39 countries. The EFJ was created in 1994 with the aim to fights for the social and professional rights of journalists working in all sectors of the media across Europe through strong trade unions and associations.
Contact | Ricardo Gutiérrez | General Secretary | ricardo.gutierrez(AT)ifj.org
About iCmedia: is the Spanish Federation of Consumers and Media Users Association. Its core fundamental purpose is the promotion of initiatives that favour the quality of contents in audiovisual media. We pretend to reflect this with the initials iCmedia: Initiative for the Quality of the Media (Iniciativa para la Calidad de los Medios).
About Pearle* - Live Performance Europe: Pearle* is the European sector federation of Performing Arts organisations. Pearle* represents through its members’ associations about 7,000 theatres, theatre production companies, orchestras and music ensembles, opera houses, ballet and dance companies, festivals, and other organisations within the performing arts sector across Europe. Alongside broadcasting, the live performance sector relies on the spectrum in the UHF to guarantee the audio quality that audiences request. Performers and technicians rely on the use of wireless microphone devices to facilitate the work. Pearle*, therefore, calls upon the EU to take this account when addressing radio policy and consequently the regulatory framework. In this regard, Pearle* underlines the necessity for the EU to position culture and cultural diversity at the heart of Europe’s digital policy.
Contact | Anita Debaere | Director | anita(AT)pearle.ws
About SOS – Save Our Spectrum: This initiative is committed to ensuring that the use of wireless microphones is not further restricted and additional spectrum is allocated for exclusive use by wireless means of production. In order to stop being displaced by mobile, it demands that the wireless means of production receive primary user status. SOS works to achieve this in parallel with organisations such as APWPT, which engages on this topic in the many technical and administrative forums and groups – such as CEPT and ITU-R.
Contact | Dr. Jochen Zenthöfer | Representative | zenthoefer(AT)pt.lu
About UNI MEI: UNI MEI represents 170 national unions & guilds affiliating more than 375 000 creators, technicians and other workers in the media, entertainment and arts worldwide. Media and entertainment workers and their trade unions affiliated to UNI MEI believe that the European Union needs to strengthen its commitment to social inclusiveness and cultural diversity. European citizens need a European Union with a progressive policy blueprint that invests in people, ensures solidarity, respects and cherishes their cultures and puts quality employment at the heart of a sustainable growth agenda.
Contact | Johannes Studinger Head of UNI MEI johannes.studinger(AT)uniglobalunion.org
About UTECA: UTECA is the short name for the Spanish association of the private owned nationwide free-DTT broadcasters. UTECA members are more than 65% of the Spanish TV consumption.
About VLV - The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) enables the voice of the citizen and consumer to be heard by broadcasters and those concerned with broadcasting policy. It strives to promote and maintain diversity and plurality in public service broadcasting in order to maintain local and national democracy, our cultural and democratic traditions. It supports the independence, integrity and secure funding of the BBC and the work of broadcasters and programme suppliers who demonstrate commitment to public service broadcasting. It promotes the broadcasting of first-rate programmes that meet the demands of listeners and viewers for more high-quality content than the market can provide. It believes every citizen should benefit from the enormous potential to deliver digital resources to people across the UK and seeks to ensure that citizens are not disadvantaged by technological developments. Mindful of the need to protect programme quality it encourages public service broadcasters to build relationships and a feeling of shared ownership with listeners and viewers.
Contact | Colin Browne | Chairman | colin(AT)colinbrowne.com
About VAUNET: VAUNET represents German private radio and tele-media enterprises. It is made of 140 members enriching Germany’s media landscape through creativity, diversity and innovation. Private broadcasters reach millions of people, not only through classic means such as TV and radio, but also through a large selection of on-demand user-generated content and social media platforms, and many more attractive services. The VPRT supports media companies in dialogue with policy bodies, supervisory board and market partners and helps them to fulfil all required regulations at the national and European level. It is the largest interest group of private broadcasting in Europe, and a member of the Association of the German Advertising Industry (ZAW), German TV Platform and an associate member of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).
Contact | Anne Peigné | European Affairs Manager | peigne(AT)vau.net