Due prominence in Electronic Programme Guides

The digitisation of television broadcasting has facilitated an exponential growth both in the number and the diversity of programmes and channels. Electronic Programme Guides (EPGs) help consumers to find their way in this abundance in offer. EPGs serve as a classical listing magazine or broadcasting guide with extensive information on television programmes, like VCRs they enable the recording of programmes, as search engines they allow users to look for content on the basis of a keyword and finally, EPGs list the most favoured programmes on the first page, either on the basis of popularity, the personal profile of the consumer or on the basis of agreements with particular broadcasting agencies. Some governments have adopted "due prominence" rules that require EPG providers to give public channels an equal or favoured treatment in their page ranking.