Legislation
Laws
The Law of Republic of
Armenia "On Television and Radiobroadcasting"
[ unofficial translation ]
Chapter III. Television and Radio Broadcasting Companies
Article 16. Types of Television and Radio Companies
There can be public and private Television and Radio Companies in
the RA with the status of legal entity.
In the RA there shall be at least one public Television and Radio
broadcasting company that shall be established based on this Law.
TV and radio companies founded by physical and legal entities are
considered to be private.
All television and radio broadcasting companies in the territory of
Armenia have equal rights and are accountable in front of the law
equally notwithstanding their ownership.
Article 17. Founders of Television and Radio Broadcasting
Companies
Founders of Television and Radio Broadcasting companies can be
any physical and legal entities with the exclusion of those listed
in this low.
At the time of establishing TV and radio companies or after that the
amount of foreign capital should not be equal or exceed the amount
of the capital that provides the result of the decisions.
Those who are not permitted found television and radio broadcasting
company:
representatives of the government or local municipalities
members of the Council of the Public Television and radio company -
members of the National Commission
political parties
religious organizations
prisoners or those denied the right to work
citizen below the age 18
Article 18. The Chapter of the Television and Radio Companies
The regulations of the Public television and Radio Company is
based on the articles 28 and 42 of this law.
The founders of television and radio broadcasting company adopt
their regulation
which includes the aim of the company, the structure, and the rights
and obligations of its members and other conditions foreseen by the
Civil Code of the RA.
Article 19. Guarantee for the Independence of Television and
Radio Companies
The interference by the state officials, political party members,
public entities and other physical and legal entities into the
function of television and radio companies is forbidden.
State officials can interfere into the operation of television and
radio companies only in the cases foreseen by the Constitution of
RA.
Article 20. Antimonopoly Guarantee
Each physical or legal entity can be licensed only for one
Television or Radio Company.
Article 21. Advertisement on the Television and Radio Companies
The advertisement in the television and radio is realized
according to the law "On Advertisement" of RA.
Article 22. Source of Income of the Television and Radio
Companies
The source of income of Television and Radio Companies shall be
advertisements, paid air time, sponsorship, income from the sale of
their own audio-visual production, subscription, founders'
investment and other financial sources which are not prohibited by
the Law.
The income of the public TV and radio company is regulated also by
article 35 of this law.
Article 23. Program Identification
Television and Radio broadcasting companies are obliged to
present their names and symbols during airing everyday, as well as
the program for the day.
TV and radio companies are obligated to continuously broadcast the
logo that company during the broadcasting of their programs, with
the exception of advertisement broadcasting.
Television and radio companies can provide the media with their
daily, weekly and monthly program with or without payment.
Article 24. Abusing Television and Radio Programs
It is forbidden to use the television and radio programs for the
following:
a) For the campaign of the coup d'etat, or forcibly change of the
Constitution.
b) Ethnic, religious or racial discrimination,
c) To publicize state or other secrets protected by the law
d) To advocate war
e) To advocate criminal or other acts, forbidden by the Law,
f) To spread pornography materials
g) Horror movies, programs damaging the education of teenagers.
h) Libel violating other people's rights.
Exclusions are historical documentaries
Programs with erotic features can be aired from 24 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Exclusion are coded programs.
Article 25. Satellite Television and Radio Broadcasting and
Broadcast
The primary right to use of Satellite rented by the Republic of
Armenia is given to the Public Television and Radio Company. In case
of existing extra air time the National Commission can decide to
rent it out to other television and radio companies. Private
Television and Radio companies can use the Satellite when they have
a contract with the Satellite Company. The broadcaster can inform
the National Commission about it.
Article 26. Consumers Right to Access to Information
Information is accessible for all the consumers if the TV and
radio company has not made restrictions on the access to information
through encoding or in another way, or if the TV and radio company
has not announced the limited access to that information.
In cases when television and radio company implements broadcasting
for unlimited number of consumers and delivery of free of charge
information, the consumer has the right to use the service without
letting the company know about it.
In other cases the prices and the conditions for the service are
decided by the agreement.
Article 27. Coded television and Radio Programs
Coded is television and radio program that is received through
the additional facilities via airing, cable, wire broadcasting.
There are not subject and language restrictions for coded programs.
Exclusions are the ones foreseen in article 24 of this law.
In this case before broadcasting the program the audience is given
the name, main subject, the direction, the hour and the length
program.
To get the programs coded the licensed television and radio
companies shall get the permission from the National Commission.
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