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Monitoring results showed that of the 31 monitored stations, only 14 air domestic products at least eight hours of the daily broadcasting volume, exclusively between 06.00 and 24.00.
According to the BCC, the monitored broadcasters can be divided into three categories: stations that have 7 to 8 hours of domestic products; stations that are close to that amount – 5 to 6 hours of domestic products; and broadcasters that have 3, 4 or fewer hours of domestic products.
The BCC report also notes that in the monitoring period, Exclusiv TV station had not even one hour of domestic products, and Ren Moldova had only 50 minutes. Both televisions will be subjected to additional monitoring so as to see to what extent they comply with the general concept of the programs service.
The new legal provisions regarding protection of the national linguistic and cultural heritage, which entered into force on October 1, 2017, were also discussed at the third Media Forum in Moldova, which took place on November 14 and 15. Among other things, media expert Ion Bunduchi criticized the way the BCC manages the field of broadcasting in terms of compliance with the amount of domestic products created by Moldovan broadcasters.
“Why do all broadcasters have to produce, since October 1, 8 hours of domestic products, when some produce and others don’t, and those who don’t produce are not penalized? I heard that the broadcasting regulator is on broadcasters’ side, making sure they don’t accidentally disappear from the media landscape… Well, the broadcasting regulator should naturally be on the side of law. If we create precendents, we open Pandora’s box, and it will be very difficult to implement the new provisions,” Bunduchi said.
New provisions of the Broadcasting Code, regarding protection of the national linguistic and cultural heritage, entered into force on October 1, 2017. According to them, broadcasters must air at least 8 hours of domestic products daily in the time interval of 06.00 – 24.00. Also, at least 6 hours of the domestic products must be aired in prime time, of which 4 hours should be in Romanian.
Penalties for violation of the law are applied to broadcasters gradually – from public warning to suspension of the broadcast license or the retransmission permit. Also, broadcasters that retransmit the program services of foreign radios and televisions and will not have 8 hours of domestic products will not be allowed to air advertising.
