The MPs passed the new Broadcasting Code in the first reading. Under this, the Broadcasting Coordination Council and the national public broadcaster will be renamed and reformed. In the July 1 sitting of Parliament, Liberal MP Lilian Carp said the new code was drafted by a group of mass media experts, while the Liberal MPs subscribed to it and submitted it for adoption, IPN reports.

The new code provides that the television and radio program services within Moldova’s jurisdiction will earmark at least 50% of their airtime for national programs, while the own programs will represent not less than 25% of the airtime. The media service providers are obliged to ensure access to information about the name of the legal representative and the shareholders and about the name of the persons who manage broadcasters and those who assume editorial responsible.

The Broadcasting Coordination Council is renamed the Audiovisual Council. This will consist of five members named by Parliament for a seven-year term. While holding office, the Council members cannot be members of political parties or sociopolitical organization. The parties cannot found and/or own shares in broadcasters.

Within 12 months of the coming into force of the code, the Broadcasting Coordination Council wil be liquidated. When the 12 months expire, Parliament will constitute and approve the composition of the Audiovisual Council.

The national public broadcaster “Teleradio-Moldova” will be reorganized into Radio Moldova and TV Moldova 1. The private individuals with the domicile in Moldova are obliged to pay a tax for the public radio and TV service, except for those who declare on their own responsibility that they do not possess radio and/or TV receivers and of those who benefit from exemption from these taxes in accordance with the law.

The Supervision Board will supervise the public broadcaster. This will consist of nine members who will be public personalities with professional qualifications in different areas.