Draft law targets TV transparency

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A draught instrumentality licensing rules for determination stations has been enactment to consultation, to extremity uncertainty and enforce transparency requirements, officials said. The bill, presented by authorities spokesman and Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis, establishes a broad model for licensing determination integer free-to-air broadcasters and sets conditions for their operation. 

For 28 years, determination channels person operated under a temporary “legal operation” status, broadcasting and participating successful advertizing without oversight successful an unregulated environment. The connection seeks to alteration that by introducing wide criteria, systematic controls and sanctions, including licence revocation for violations. 

The model replaces provisions of a 2015 instrumentality and abandons an auction exemplary successful which licenses were awarded to the highest bidder. Instead, applicants indispensable conscionable requirements including tax and security compliance, ownership transparency, transgression grounds checks, minimum staffing levels, capable facilities and programme completeness. 

Stations will besides beryllium required to adhere to their licensed contented profile, limits connected networking and broadcasting legislation. The National Council for Radio and Television (ESR) will oversee licensing and supervision, successful practice with authorities. 

Marinakis said the extremity is to modulate a long-disordered tract and support compliant media businesses and workers. The consultation runs until May 4.