Legislation
Laws
The Law of Republic of
Armenia "On Television and Radiobroadcasting"
[ unofficial translation ]
Chapter II. Organization of Television and Radio Broadcasting
Article 7. Procedure for the Preparation Implementation of
Television and radio Programs
In RA, broadcasting of TV and radio programs is implemented based
on licensing. TV and radio companies implement TV and radio
broadcasting using their own, rented and (or) lent technical
devices.
In case of dissemination of programs by other broadcasting companies
reference to the source is obligatory.
Article 8. Search for Audio and Video Information
The rights of journalists and other specialists to search for and
find any kind of information to prepare TV and radio programs are
not limited during the implementation of video and audio recording,
with the exception of the cases stipulated by the legislation of the
Republic of Armenia.
Article 9. Protection of a National Programs Producer
Broadcasting nationally produced programs on any channel cannot
be less than 65% of the overall airtime, if not stipulated otherwise
by this law.
Exclusions are the direct broadcast of important information,
educational, cultural, sport and other events.
Those provisions do not apply to coded programs.
Article 10. Broadcast of Foreign radio and Television
Companies’ Programs
Programs of foreign television and radio broadcasting companies
can be rebroadcast in the territory of RA, based on interstate
agreement or a license granted to the re-broadcaster by the National
Commission, using no more then one fifth of the existing frequency
for each range (VHF, UHF, FM, etc.) The procedure for granting a
license for re-broadcasting is defined by the National Commission.
TV and radio companies licensed in the Republic of Armenia can
rebroadcast the programs of foreign TV and radio companies on a
contractual basis, abiding by the demands of the articles 5 and 9 of
the law and the licensing conditions and by informing the National
Commission in writing before re-broadcasting.
Article 11. Television and Radio Programs During Referendums
and Elections
Before and during referendum and election campaigns the RA law on
elections and referendum regulates Television and Radio programs.
During the above-mentioned period it is forbidden to broadcast
political or other campaign materials in the form of information,
editorial, documentary, column and other programs. Similar programs
should be run with the "Political Advertisement" or
"Election Campaign" title on the screen. In case of radio
broadcast not less then three times during the program there should
be a reminder about it.
During the referendum and election campaign the television and
radiobroadcasting companies shall publicly inform about the rates
for political advertisement and for the airtime. Everyone shall use
the paid airtime based on contracts, and the conditions shall be the
same for everyone.
Article 12. The Television and Radio During Military and
Extraordinary Situations
Television and radio companies are obliged to provide the RA
President or individuals authorized by the president with the
airtime for the official statements on military situation or in case
of natural disaster, accidents, fires and extraordinary situations.
The allotted airtime cannot exceed 10 minutes in each hour.
Article 13. Receiving of Audio-Visual Information
Viewers and listeners of broadcasting programs receive
audio-visual information for free of charge or paid via open or
coded channels.
TV viewers and radio listeners shall have no obstacles in receiving
all the TV and radio programs (including the foreign TV and radio
programs broadcast through satellite connection,) without the right
to rebroadcast them.
Article 14. Preservation of Audio-Visual Materials
Television and radio broadcast companies shall preserve the
recorded version of their products within one month from the
production date.
All programs and broadcasts shall be registered in a book indicating
the date, starting and ending time of broadcasting, summary
contents, names of the authors and officials in charge.
After one month, the audio-visual materials can be erased if there
was no application, complaint or legal action submitted to the
council of public TV and radio company, National commission, TV and
radio companies or the court, concerning the refutation of the data
or other controversial issues included in the programs.
Article 15. Sponsorship of Television and Radio Broadcasting
Sponsorship of television and radio broadcasting is a direct or
indirect financial investment of physical and legal entities aimed
at increasing the quality of programs and their process of
preparation.
Sponsorship of television and radio broadcasting shall be a
non-commercial type of financing.
Sponsorship by political parties, religious organizations is
prohibited.
Sponsorship of information production, official statements and
political programs is prohibited, as well as the interference of a
sponsor in the sponsored programs is prohibited.
In the sponsored program statements about the identity of the
sponsor, symbols, autographs can be expressly presented at the
beginning and at the end of the broadcast program for no longer then
one minute each.
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