Broadcasters Demand DMA Gatekeeper Designation for Android TV (23%), Fire OS (12%) and Tizen (24%)
EU broadcasters representing Canal+, RTL, ITV and others asked antitrust chief Teresa Ribera to designate Android TV (market share 16%→23%), Amazon Fire OS (5%→12%) and Samsung’s Tizen (24%) as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act. They said Alexa, Siri and ChatGPT Tasks now act as de facto gatekeepers without oversight.
1. Broadcasters’ Gatekeeper Request
A coalition of major European broadcasters including Canal+, RTL, ITV, Paramount+ and others sent a letter to EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera urging her to use the Digital Markets Act to designate key smart TV operating systems as gatekeepers. They argue that without DMA oversight, a limited number of tech operators can unfairly control content distribution and user access.
2. Market Share Growth Data
The broadcasters cited a 2025 market study showing Android TV’s share rose from 16% in 2019 to 23% in 2024, Amazon Fire OS climbed from 5% to 12% over the same period, and Samsung’s Tizen OS holds a 24% share. These figures underpin their call for gatekeeper status, which triggers stricter interoperability and fairness obligations.
3. Virtual Assistants Regulatory Gap
Broadcasters highlighted that virtual assistants like Alexa, Siri and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Tasks are not yet designated as gatekeepers, creating a regulatory void. They warn these AI assistants can become de facto content gatekeepers on smart speakers, smartphones and in-car systems without being subject to DMA obligations.