Ensuring media ownership transparence will be an obligation for private broadcasters. A bill with relevant amendments to the Broadcasting Code was passed by Parliament in the first reading, IPN reports.

One of the bill authors Chiril Lucinschi said that in order to guarantee the consumers’ right to form an opinion about the value of the information and opinions broadcast by radio stations and TV channels, the private broadcasters will be obliged to make public particular information, including the place where the administration is based, contact data, the names of owners and their shareholdings in the company’s registered capital, the list of board members and the name of the administrator.

When contests to distribute broadcast licenses are held, the members of the Broadcasting Coordination Council will be able to ask for additional information about the owners and their legal relations with the affiliates. If the required information is not presented completely, the Council can refuse to offer the broadcast license.

Also, the private broadcasters will have to publish annually, by May 1, and to present a working report to the Broadcasting Coordination Council. If they do not obey the legal provisions, the private broadcasters will be penalized.

The bill is to be passed in the second reading. It will take effect when it is published.