THE European Parliament is to press for changes in the Maastricht Treaty to protect public service broadcasting organisations such as RTE.
A report from the parliament's committee dealing with media issues is calling for a "positive policy" towards public service broadcasting. Such a policy, it states, should recognise its role in building national and international citizenship, rather than being based solely on competition and market policies.
The parliament is to debate the report tomorrow but it is already guaranteed that it will pass.
One of the committee's concerns is the speed with which major sporting events are being bought by Sky and other pay TV services.
A recommendation calls for access by public service broadcasting organisations to major sporting events. It insists that where exclusive rights to sports, entertainment or other events with particular value and interest to the viewing public are bought by pay television, highlights must be available on television services that are free and available to all.
The report was drafted by an English Labour MEP, Ms Carol Tongue, and supported, by among others, Ms Mary Banotti, of Fine Gael, a vice chairwoman of the committee.
The report clearly indicates the fear that public service broadcasting will be under increasing pressure from market forces as pay per view and other services buy up more programmes and sporting events.
It also shows that MEPs fear the advent of digital television, with its almost unlimited capacity, could leave public service stations lagging behind without funds and the new technology necessary to reach mass audiences.
The report supports the view of many MEPs that the growth in the amount of television available will not necessarily ensure standards are maintained.
It calls for the development of digital services that will operate within the public service ethos and for a code of conduct defining public service.
It also calls on the Commission to continue to view public funding as legitimate for public service companies, provided they fulfil their public service obligations.
One of the concerns is that European society could divide into the "information rich and information poor", as access to information becomes more expensive with the development of pay television and pay as you view.
The report says that the Commission must ensure that public service broadcasting remains available to all citizens.
It also wants the Commission to ensure that cable and satellite service are obliged to provide public service broadcast channels on their services.
As well as making public service television available, the Commission is also being asked to make sure that it is independent of government and of economic interference and that it is given the required funding to allow it early entry into the digital field.
The report says that over the next 10 years public service television will become more important. It will not be replaced by dozens of viable minority channels. It must maintain its position as the main funding agency for new programmes, rather than rely on bought in programmes.
"As commercial competition intensifies and mainstream commercial channels become more similar in their mass market appeal, public service television will provide the best method of maintaining the widest range of accessible choice for the public."
The report will he sent to the Commission and its response will he debated by the Parliament again before the Council of Ministers is involved in the process.