European television and radio broadcasters are pushing antitrust regulators to crack down on how big tech companies run our living rooms. A massive group of media organizations recently told the European Union that smart TV platforms and voice assistants should face the same strict competition rules as app stores and web browsers. They specifically called out Apple TV and Siri, alongside similar products.
Broadcasters think big tech has too much power over your screen
The core issue comes down to who decides what you watch. Broadcasters argue that these tech giants hold too much power over what shows and channels actually appear on your television screen. When you boot up a smart TV, companies like Apple get to dictate which streaming apps get the best placement and visibility.
Media companies are also highly concerned about voice search. If you ask a digital assistant like Siri or Alexa to play a specific news broadcast or radio station, the software often routes you through its own internal ecosystem.
The broadcasters claim this intercepts audiences and prevents viewers from going directly to the original creator’s app.
The EU is forcing Apple and Google to play fair with other streaming apps
To fix this power imbalance, the broadcasters want the European Union to officially label these smart home operating systems as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act. This specific law was built to stop huge tech monopolies from boxing out smaller competitors.
If regulators agree with the television networks, the landscape of smart TVs could change drastically. This action by the EU would force companies like Apple and Google to give rival streaming apps completely fair placement on their home screens.
They would also have to open up their voice assistants so that user requests are passed directly to third-party media players without interference.
