BCC fines rebroadcasters

The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) fined a number of service providers violating conditions of retransmission of channels. Another fine was applied for not allowing BCC inspectors to do their job, Info-Prim Neo reports. The fined companies offer rebroadcasting services in Telenesti, Falesti, Durlesti and Ungheni. Sun TV Balti will have to pay 5,400 lei for obstructing BCC inspectors from performing some checks. “It’s a severe precedent, especially because it involves an experienced company that has been on the media market for a long time”, said Marian Pocaznoi, BCC chairman. Starnet Ungheni will have to pay a 5,400 lei fine as well. BCC found that the company rebroadcasted other channels than those presented on the list for which it obtained a license. Starnet representatives claim that the channels where offered during a testing period. “The company submitted a request to the BCC, asking to be allowed to perform a testing period, but we rejected it”, said the BCC chairman. BCC fined another service provider because it didn’t rebroadcast 10 of the channels it was supposed to. The company has a month to present a new list of channels it will have to rebroadcast and the necessary contracts. The fines were applied at the BCC's meeting on Friday, July 8.