Broadcasting in particular has seen remarkable change from the days of single-channel public broadcasting systems. The audiovisual "explosion" is a cultural, social and economic phenomenon of global dimension. The audiovisual sector forms an essential part of Europe's economic and cultural influence in the world. The fundamental principle of the Union's audiovisual policy is to provide for the free circulation of reception of trans frontier broadcasts. So the European audiovisual industry is

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... ely to become a stronger and more competitive player on the global scene. The future of public service broadcasting in Europe is increasingly challenged by unfavorable external factors, such as intensifying competition from commercial media, media concentrations, political and economic interests adversary to independent media, and by internal difficulties, such as cost ineffectiveness.