Spain

[ES] Bill to Implement the Revised “Television without Frontiers” Directive

IRIS 1998-4:1/18

Alberto Pérez Gómez

Entidad publica empresarial RED.ES

The Spanish Government has recently presented a Bill in order to implement the revised "Television without Frontiers" Directive. The Bill proposes to amend the Spanish Law 25/1994, which implemented the original "Television without Frontiers" Directive. The Bill introduces some important amendments concerning inter alia: the scope of application of the provisions of the law (it would apply to terrestrial, satellite and cable TV, and to all public and private broadcasters); the criteria used to determine in which country a broadcaster is established; the new rules on advertising (especially during sports events), sponsorship and teleshopping; the adoption of special measures for self-promotional and teleshopping channels; the increase of the possible fines in case of infringement of the law, etc. Apart from implementing the revised "Television without Frontiers" Directive, the Bill establishes new obligations for the broadcasters, like the obligation not to change the announced programme planning unless there is a justifiable reason and the obligation to establish a rating system for the TV programmes.