The representatives of the main TV stations in Romania, the National Broadcasting Council (CNA) and the representatives of the civil society are against the proposition of the parliamentary Committee on drafting electoral laws about appending electoral advertising minutes to the 12 minutes of commercial advertising the TV stations are allowed to broadcast in one hour.
The plenum of both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate will soon debate the proposition of the Committee allowing TV and radio stations to air political publicity above the 12-minute cap for commercial channels and 8-minute limit for public channels, set by the Broadcasting Law no 504 and the Television without Frontiers Directive. This means that, if extra advertising minutes were added, the TV stations would lose some of their audience, as people would become utterly frustrated with programmes losing substance.
The Committee’s proposal enjoys only the politicians’ support, while the other parties involved are clearly against it.
Ralu Filip, CNA chairman, says this amendment of the Committee violates the legal provisions currently in effect in Romania.
“In my opinion, this proposition is illegal. It is in breach of the Television without Frontiers Directive, which says one may not air over 12 minutes of advertising an hour on commercial TV stations and 8 minutes an hour on public stations, no matter if it’s detergent advertising or political party advertising. This is what the Broadcasting Law in Romania stipulates, as well,” CNA’s chairman told Ziarul Financiar.
Filip says the amendment of the Constitution points to a hidden agenda, that is avoiding competition with commercial ads over the 12 minute space. “They hope to pay less that they actually should,” Ralu Filip stated.
The CNA chairman specified the amendment was disrespectful to the audience and even radio broadcasters. “I’m talking about lack of respect for the public because it is hard to admit the viewers will agree to have an hour of a programme half-full of commercial advertising, promotional clips and political advertising. The lack of respect for radio broadcasters stems from the fact that whoever wants to advertise has to pay, because this is how radio and TV stations make a living,” Ralu Filip said.