OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Sky Group

SKY

Sky connects millions across Europe with TV, broadband and mobile services, owned by Comcast Corporation.

Lobbying Activity

Sky Group urges EU to maintain current audiovisual media rules

19 Dec 2025
Topic — Evaluation of the impact and added value of audiovisual media rules.
Message — Sky recommends maintaining the status quo and resisting premature legislative change to current rules. They suggest focusing on enforcement and protecting the Country-of-Origin principle for market clarity.1
Why — Maintaining current rules provides legal clarity and protects Sky's significant long-term investments.2
Impact — Platforms outside the directive's scope would lose their regulatory advantage through improved enforcement.3
Read full response

Sky urges EU to avoid duplicating existing digital consumer protections

24 Oct 2025
Topic — Proposed EU regulation on dark patterns, influencer marketing, and addictive design.
Message — Sky urges the Commission to avoid introducing additional measures which risk creating duplication and regulatory uncertainty. They want greater focus on consistent implementation of current rules like the right of withdrawal, and clarification that Pay-TV content qualifies as digital content allowing providers to request users waive withdrawal rights.12
Why — This would protect their subscription model from refund abuse after customers consume premium content.34
Impact — Consumers lose stronger withdrawal rights for digital subscriptions after beginning to use services.5
Read full response

Meeting with Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President) and

4 Sept 2025 · Roundtable with representatives of the media industry

Sky Group urges EU to keep current telecom infrastructure rules

10 Jul 2025
Topic — The EU is consulting on a Digital Networks Act to boost infrastructure investment.
Message — Sky urges the Commission to maintain current rules and avoid new network fees. They argue that overhauling existing regulations would create complexity and deter innovation.12
Why — Maintaining the current framework protects Sky's market position as a successful alternative provider.3
Impact — Dominant telecom operators lose the ability to seek new network fees from competitors.4
Read full response

Sky Group Urges Mandatory 30-Minute Piracy Takedown Rules

4 Jun 2025
Topic — Evaluating the effectiveness of EU recommendations on combating online piracy.
Message — Sky demands a legislative instrument forcing platforms to remove illegal streams within thirty minutes. They also advocate for mandatory real-time IP blocking across Europe.12
Why — Stricter enforcement would prevent significant revenue losses from unauthorized sports broadcasts.3
Impact — Intermediaries lose legal immunity if they fail to meet strict takedown deadlines.4
Read full response

Meeting with Kamila Kloc (Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

22 May 2025 · Upcoming Digital Networks Act

Meeting with Nela Riehl (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair) and EBU-UER (European Broadcasting Union) and

14 May 2025 · Stakeholder Roundtable:The Future of European Broadcasting, Press and Media: How to create a common European Media Space?

Meeting with Diana Riba I Giner (Member of the European Parliament) and EBU-UER (European Broadcasting Union) and

14 May 2025 · Broadcasting, press and media in the EU

Meeting with Erik Marquardt (Member of the European Parliament) and EBU-UER (European Broadcasting Union) and

14 May 2025 · Stakeholder Roundtable: Broadcasting, Press and Media in the EU

Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Google and

6 May 2025 · Copyright and generative AI

Meeting with Helena Robyn (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné) and Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe and

18 Feb 2025 · Geo-blocking AI Piracy

Meeting with Egelyn Braun (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath), Jördis Ferroli (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath) and

24 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views on media related policies, including the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and consumer protection

Meeting with Hannes Heide (Member of the European Parliament) and The Walt Disney Company Benelux BVBA

27 Nov 2024 · Exchange of views on audiovisual and media policy

Meeting with Giorgio Gori (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Nov 2024 · Presentation of priorities and exchange of views on upcoming legislation

Meeting with Lara Magoni (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Nov 2024 · Implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)

Meeting with Giusi Princi (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Nov 2024 · Meeting with Sky

Meeting with Sunčana Glavak (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Nov 2024 · Audiovisual and media policy, the issue of piracy

Sky Group opposes network fees and premature telecom law changes

28 Jun 2024
Topic — European Commission consultation on scenarios to address Europe's digital infrastructure and connectivity needs.
Message — Sky rejects mandatory network fees and requests no changes to telecom laws until 2030. They also advocate for a pro-competitive copper switch-off that protects vulnerable consumers.12
Why — Preventing network fees avoids higher costs for Sky's content delivery and broadcasting operations.3
Impact — Dominant national telecom providers lose the ability to extract higher profits from older networks.4
Read full response

Meeting with Pascal Arimont (Member of the European Parliament)

21 Feb 2024 · Geoblocking of sport events and solutions for linguistic minorities in Europe

Meeting with Fabio Massimo Castaldo (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Jan 2024 · Event “Sky TG24 a Bruxelles”

Meeting with Maria Angela Danzì (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Jan 2024 · Generazione Europa

Response to Virtual worlds, such as metaverse

3 May 2023

Find our response in the attached document.
Read full response

Meeting with Eleonora Ocello (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton)

2 May 2023 · Copyright

Meeting with Deirdre Clune (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Apr 2023 · EU Copyright Directive

Meeting with Billy Kelleher (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Apr 2023 · Audio Visual Reg/European Works/Network Fees

Meeting with Patricia Reilly (Cabinet of Commissioner Mairead Mcguinness)

25 Apr 2023 · Introductory Meeting

Meeting with Maria Walsh (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Apr 2023 · Audiovisual Media Services Directive

Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and BUSINESSEUROPE and

8 Mar 2023 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

Response to Fighting against online piracy of live content

10 Feb 2023

See attached document (.pdf)
Read full response

Meeting with Petra Kammerevert (Member of the European Parliament) and Google and

1 Feb 2023 · European Media Freedom Act

Meeting with Irena Joveva (Member of the European Parliament)

31 Jan 2023 · European Media Freedom Act

Sky Group urges protection for editorial curation and harmonization

23 Jan 2023
Topic — The European Media Freedom Act establishes rules to protect media independence and pluralism.
Message — Sky Group wants Article 19 adapted to safeguard editorial curation and technical feasibility. They advocate for a unified Regulation to avoid market fragmentation across member states. They also seek to protect proprietary audience measurement methodologies from competing online platforms.123
Why — Harmonized rules and curation protections would lower costs and maintain brand control.4
Impact — Large online platforms would lose access to valuable competitor audience measurement data.5
Read full response

Meeting with Werner Stengg (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

18 Jan 2023 · Telecommunication

Meeting with Nicola Danti (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Oct 2022 · Discussion on fair share contribution

Meeting with Barry Andrews (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Sept 2022 · Introduction

Response to The Union Position for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023

13 Jul 2022

Sky Group is a leading media company in Europe and a connectivity provider in the UK, Ireland and Italy, serving in total more than 23 million customers across all our services and employing 35.000 people. We welcome the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence regarding the EU position for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023. We have expressed our views in the attached document.
Read full response

Meeting with Adrián Vázquez Lázara (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Colegio de Registradores de España

26 Apr 2022 · General exchange of views

Meeting with Filomena Chirico (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and Vodafone Belgium SA and Open Fiber

28 Oct 2021 · Italian situation regarding co-investment pursuant to EECC

Meeting with Sandro Gozi (Member of the European Parliament) and Netflix International B.V.

5 Oct 2021 · network contribution fees

Sky urges refinement of AI Act definitions and requirements

6 Aug 2021
Topic — EU regulation establishing harmonized rules on artificial intelligence development and use.
Message — Sky requests more precise definitions of AI systems, prohibited uses, and high-risk categories to avoid inadvertently capturing low-risk activities. They argue requirements like error-free datasets are not technically feasible and should be replaced with safeguards that minimize errors.123
Why — This would provide clarity to invest in innovation without burdensome compliance for low-risk AI applications.45
Read full response

Response to Intellectual Property Action Plan

13 Aug 2020

Sky plc (“Sky”) thanks the European Commission (“Commission”) for the opportunity to provide feedback on the Roadmap on “Intellectual property (IP) action plan” (“Roadmap”). With 24 million customers across seven countries, Sky is Europe’s leading media and entertainment company. Our 32,000 employees help connect our customers to the very best entertainment, sports, news, arts and to our local, original content. Following the success of Sky originals like Chernobyl, we plan to double our current €8 billion investment in original content by 2024. We are also developing a new TV and movie studio. Sky supports the intension of the Commission to further improve the management and protection of IP rights, as well as its broader aim of moving towards a greener and more digital European economy. As part of an IPR-intensive industry*, Sky welcomes the perspective of an IP action plan aimed at upgrading, further harmonising and reinforcing the effectiveness of IP, its smarter use and safeguarding. Fight IP theft - online piracy and the Digital Services Act: A strong IPR framework, and copyright specifically, is crucial to ensure we can continue to offer the best quality of content, services and technology for the benefit of our customers and the overall European economy. Yet, our sector remains one of the most impacted when it comes to copyright infringements. The Roadmap rightly points out to the fact that piracy still constitutes a real problem. Indeed, the unauthorised distribution of our feed and content leads to loss of revenue which cannot be reinvested in high quality creative and cultural content. While we do agree with the need to continue monitoring the application of the IPR Enforcement Directive, and to ensure the swift implementation of the Copyright Directive, we also believe that further regulatory actions should be taken alongside a strengthened enforcement of antipiracy rules. The upcoming Digital Services Act (DSA) is an opportunity to create a proportionate system of online accountability that will enable Internet companies to continue to grow in a socially responsible and economically sustainable way. To achieve this goal, the DSA should not only focus on “stepping up the fight against counterfeiting” as the Roadmap proposes, but also against piracy. It should create a proportionate accountability regime with objective and measurable standards of prevention and removal of harmful and illegal content. A system of regular reporting obligations, overseen and sanctioned by a competent authority is of utmost importance. Promote better licensing of standard-essential patents: The Roadmap reads that ‘the licensing of standard-essential patents (SEPs) remains a risky and costly exercise for patent holders and implementers’. In our opinion, transparency and timely declarations should be encouraged to create greater predictability and avoid the potential for “hold-up” and “royalty stacking”. In addition to that, FRAND valuation should ensure that valid, infringer and enforceable SEPs should be valued on their own merits. And finally, traditional patent law and burdens of proof should be applied to test the merits of the licensor’s SEPs and royalty demands, just as they are for all patents. *According to a 2019 study developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), industries that make intensive use of intellectual property rights (IPRs) generate 45% of economic activity in the European Union and employ up to one in three people in the EU - https://www.epo.org/service-support/publications.html?pubid=201#tab3
Read full response

Response to Report on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation

29 Apr 2020

Please see attached PDF document for our response. Thank you
Read full response

Meeting with Anthony Whelan (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

5 Feb 2020 · Audiovisual media

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

4 Feb 2020 · Exchange on audio-visual and media policy

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President)

4 Feb 2020 · Sustainability, Plastics and the Green Deal

Meeting with Margrethe Vestager (Executive Vice-President) and

4 Feb 2020 · Digital policy

Response to Contract summary template for electronic communications service providers

9 Sept 2019

Please find attached Sky's input to the draft implementing regulation.
Read full response

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

4 Feb 2019 · digital single Market

Response to Ecodesign requirements for electronic displays and televisions

5 Nov 2018

Dear Commission The broadcasting and consumer electronics industries have worked productively with the Commission on regulatory efforts in the consumer electronics sector that have contributed to phasing out inefficient legacy products such as plasma and cathode ray tube televisions through strict energy laws. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Commission on new measures to tackle non-energy eco-design advances and are pleased to see that manufacturers are already phasing out hazardous substances such as mercury. We are concerned though that the new draft regulations for televisions are focusing on new technologies that are central to the future of broadcasting. Customers are migrating to UHD through developments such as OLED or TrueQD but measures proposed by the Commission on further restrictive energy requirements would have the effect of preventing our customers being able to replace their existing televisions with new models having the same picture quality that they are already enjoying. The proposed regulations would effectively halt the sale of all new premium televisions. We strongly urge the Commission to consult and deliberate very carefully over the implementation of these restrictions and consider extending the time frame to allow industry to make the scientific advancements needed to meet the challenges posed by the proposals.
Read full response

Meeting with Jyrki Katainen (Vice-President)

17 May 2018 · Circular Economy

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

4 May 2018 · discussion on plastics

Meeting with Christiane Canenbley (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

20 Mar 2018 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

20 Mar 2018 · Platform regulation

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

13 Mar 2018 · implementation of Plastic Strategy

Meeting with Andras Inotai (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella), Brian Synnott (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella)

26 Feb 2018 · Ocean conservation, blue economy, Our Ocean Conference

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

21 Feb 2018 · Platforms, illegal content online

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

21 Feb 2018 · Platforms and Copyright

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)

20 Feb 2018 · Discussion on Plastic Strategy and Better Regulation

Meeting with Mariya Gabriel (Commissioner)

20 Feb 2018 · Electronic Communications Code, Disinformation Online, AVMSD, Copyright

Meeting with Karmenu Vella (Commissioner) and

20 Feb 2018 · Ocean conservation, blue economy, Our Ocean Conference

Meeting with Julian King (Commissioner)

20 Feb 2018 · Cybersecurity

Meeting with Eduard Hulicius (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová)

23 Jan 2018 · on the regulation of Internet

Meeting with Andras Inotai (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella), Aurore Maillet (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella), Brian Synnott (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella)

10 Jan 2018 · our ocean conference, blue growth, plastics strategy

Response to Fairness in platform-to-business relations

22 Nov 2017

Sky welcomes the European Commission’s approach to fairness in platform to business relations. This is an important and fundamental issue to the modern European digital economy and deserves scrutiny. Online service and businesses cannot avoid interacting with online platforms who are very often gatekeepers to European consumers online. Sky has an interest in this policy position for a number of reasons, including that our services and apps are available via online platforms and that our content (or content describing how to access our content illegally) is often made available illegally via online platforms and the removal or monetisation of this content requires interacting with online platforms on a commercial level. On fairness in online platform to business relations, comprehensive rules as part of a regulatory framework are just as important as ex post competition law in securing good outcomes for European businesses and consumers. Online platforms have substantial power in dictating business practices and the terms under which goods and services are made available. With this power must come consummate responsibility, accountability and transparency (with rigorous scrutiny rather than voluntary commitments). We support the European Commission adopting a legislative approach (option 3). Businesses need long term assurance that online platforms and their decisions in Europe will be properly scrutinised with effective redress mechanisms capable of tackling problems before they become existential threats to European businesses. We also note that the proposals should be wider than focusing on only small and medium businesses. Large European players such as broadcasters also lack the influence and scale to negotiate effectively with global technology companies to avoid harmful or arbitrary business practices. We look forward to engaging further on these proposals.
Read full response

Meeting with Karmenu Vella (Commissioner)

4 Oct 2017 · Sky engagement in Our Oceans conference 4-7 October Malta

Meeting with Marika Lautso-Mousnier (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen) and LVMH Publica and

3 Oct 2017 · EU measures against counterfeiting

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

2 Oct 2017 · SatCab

Meeting with Manuel Mateo Goyet (Cabinet of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel)

5 Sept 2017 · DSM, The Copyright Directive and Broadcasting Regulation, IPRED

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

5 Sept 2017 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Filomena Chirico (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

4 Sept 2017 · Role of platforms and creative sectors for Skills and Jobs

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

4 Sept 2017 · AVMSD, copyright, satellite and cable directive

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip) and HP Inc and

27 Apr 2017 · Revision of the Directive on Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy)

9 Nov 2016 · copyright

Meeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)

9 Nov 2016 · Copyright, crossborder access to the content

Meeting with Shane Sutherland (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

29 Jun 2016 · Annual Reception

Meeting with Markus Schulte (Digital Economy)

29 Jun 2016 · DSM

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

18 Mar 2016 · Presentation of Sky's new digital services

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

1 Mar 2016 · DSM

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

1 Mar 2016 · Copyright, AVMSD

Meeting with Tibor Navracsics (Commissioner)

1 Mar 2016 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Matthew Baldwin (Cabinet of Commissioner Jonathan Hill)

17 Nov 2015 · Financial Policy

Meeting with Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

17 Nov 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy)

17 Nov 2015 · copyright

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

3 Jun 2015 · DSM

Meeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and

3 Jun 2015 · Media services, copyright, broadcasting

Meeting with Tibor Navracsics (Commissioner) and

3 Jun 2015 · Digital sector

Meeting with Robert Madelin (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

12 May 2015 · Digital Single Market

Meeting with Pauline Rouch (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

12 May 2015 · Digital Single Market