Publika TV, Zona M, and TVC 21 Sanctioned for Insufficient Amount of Local Content in Romanian
The Broadcasting Council (BC) imposed fines from 15000 lei to 20000 lei to such TV channels as Publika TV, Zona M, and TVC 21 for the insufficient amount of local content in the Romanian language. The decision was made unanimously at the meeting held on May 19.
On April 21, 2023, the BC ordered monitoring such TV channels as Publika TV, Orizont TV, Zona M, TVC 21, and TV Găgăuzia. This decision was made after, according to the previous control results, they had breached the legal obligation to broadcast at least 80% of the local audiovisual programs in Romanian. Monitoring such channels as Orizont TV and TV Găgăuzia was postponed for the subsequent meeting, as additional observations from the BC were necessary.
“Zona M and TVC 21 have not improved their results at all. During the last control, the same results were registered, i.e. zero content in Romanian. At Publika TV, the situation has slightly improved, though insignificantly, but the difference is less noticeable than it was previously,” Aneta Gonța, the BC Vice-President, said. She insisted on minimum sanctions for Publika TV due to the improvement of the situation regarding the share of local content in Romanian, but requested to apply maximum fines to Zona M and TVC 21.
According to the classifications, Publika TV, Zona M, and TVC 21 have the status of private national providers, and therefore have an obligation to broadcast at least eight hours of local audiovisual programs per day.
