Օn July 13, at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport, amendments were made to the package of bills on new regulations in the field of audiovisual media. In particular, all TV channels will be obliged to have content for children, it was also suggested to establish fixed airtime for national minorities; half an hour a week for an audiovisual broadcaster and two hours for the Public Radio. When discussing the new regulations in the field of audiovisual media, MP Anna Kostanyan suggested completely revising and bringing in line with international media standards the article on the right to receive information on important events, as she considered it censorship. Vahagn Tevosyan, co-author of the amendments, assured that censorship is excluded and the article corresponds to EU standards.
The package of projects received a positive conclusion at the sitting of the commission. It will be included in the agenda of the forthcoming special sitting of the National Assembly.
It should be reminded that a group of NGOs had issued a statement, noting that the draft law on “Audiovisual media” causes a deep concern. “Not only is it not aimed at implementing reforms in the broadcasting sector, but it has many shortcomings in terms of the applied principles, approaches and their formulations.”
“Media Advocate” has also expressed its concerns, which have been circumvented, in particular in connection with Article 7 of the draft, which sets out detailed requirements for the content produced and broadcast by audiovisual media. Moreover, some of these requirements refer only to news programs, and the other part, at least, may be assumed to apply to all programs.
The concepts of Article 7 of the draft are quite subjective and evaluative. These refers to the concepts that may give rise to different interpretations, based on one’s desire and expediency.
The issue of the involvement of private TV companies in the public multiplex was also problematic. For example, it is not clear whether licensing under Article 45 of the Draft will provide the TV company with a de facto opportunity to operate in a public multiplex. A more detailed link to these and other concerns may be found here.
“Media Advocate” Initiative: The new draft law “On audiovisual media services” is problematic
