Advanced Television

Ukraine sets Russian TV quotas

May 18, 2016

By Chris Forrester

Ukraine’s Supreme Council has set limits on the amount of foreign programming that can be carried by both domestic and “foreign” broadcasters. However, it seems the target for the limitations are not European – or by implication other ‘international/western’ transmissions – but by those from an “aggressor state”, meaning Russia.

BBC Monitoring, in a May 17th report, says: “Law No 2766 “On amendments to article 28 of the law of Ukraine ‘On television and radio broadcasting’ relating to definition of programmes produced in Europe” received support from 229 MPs on Tuesday. The law stipulates that music pieces by Ukrainian authors and performers in radio programmes should comprise at least 50 per cent of the total weekly broadcast time.”

The same law establishes that licensees (except satellite broadcasting) in the period between 0700 and 2300 [0400-2000 gmt] should adhere to the following proportions in airing Ukrainian and foreign programmes: European, as well as US and Canadian programmes should take at least 70 per cent of the total weekly broadcast time, including no less than 50 per cent of Ukrainian-made programmes.

The document establishes that European programmes are those produced by one or more resident entities of states that have ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. European programmes also comprise those produced by the order of resident entities of states that have ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television provided that such programmes are produced also by resident entities of such states.

If a programme is produced by the order or with the assistance of one or more resident entities of a state recognised by the Supreme Council as an aggressor state and/or an occupier state, such a programme cannot be considered as a programme of European and Ukrainian origin.

Categories: Articles, Policy, Regulation