Law for the media, Marku: Compromise with interest groups

“There is a time limit for TV ads. The standard is that of European countries, but for the Albanian media it is a problem, because the price of TV ads for time unit is much lower than in other EU countries”, Marku declared.

Another article discussed by interest groups is exactly that of political advertisements.

“The function of the National Council of Radio Televisions (NCRT) regarding advertisements, even political ones: up to now, it was the Central Election Commission who took care of the political advertisements, the electoral institution, which doesn’t have the right to control a media. While NCRT, as a regulating institution, is more legitimate in this function. I think that NCRT should monitor the entire activity”, Marku declared.

As for article 22 of this draft-law, which gives controlling competences to the Minister of Innovation, Genc Pollo, Mr. Marku promises that it will be reviewed.

“I am a bit skeptical about the competences of the acting Minister, because I think that the administrative power must not interfere with the media. This is why we are reviewing it, because the main objections of the main actors that we consulted are exactly about this”, Marku declared.

In this draft-law it is not sure by whom and how will be collected the fines against Cable TVs, which continue to broadcast pirated programs.

“I think that it is normal to make the fines more severe, because that would help the fight against piracy. Especially with cable TVs, where there is too much piracy. I think that this damages free competition, because others buy media products”, Marku declared, adding that they have asked NCRT to propose a variant for adding a clause to the law for enabling the application and implementation of the fines.

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