Albania

[AL] Licences of 50 Private Radio and Television Broadcasters Suspended

IRIS 2002-4:1/7

Hamdi Jupe

Albanian Media Monitoring Center

The National Council of Radio-Television, the state authority that licenses and monitors the activities of private radio and television broadcasters in the Republic of Albania, decided on 15 March 2002 to declare invalid the licenses of 30 private broadcasters, and temporarily suspended the licenses of 20 other private broadcasters.

The Council took these measures because the radio and television broadcasters thus penalised had not paid their fees as provided for by law no. 8410 of 30 September 1998 "On private radio and television in the Republic of Albania". (see also IRIS 2002-2: 13) According to Article 33 point 3 ("Invalidity of license") of this law "the license is invalid when the applicant withdraws the license or does not pay the financial obligations envisioned by law 90 days after the time of official notification of its approval"

Before this decision was taken, there were 97 private radio and television broadcasters licensed for national and local transmission in Albania. According to the above-mentioned Albanian law, private radio and television broadcasters should pay an annual fee for their broadcasting license, as well as another annual levy on all their other business activities (Article 137 point 3). The National Council of Radio-Television had issued warnings to the radio and television broadcasters that had not made these payments.

Private broadcasters, since they began transmitting in 1997, have constantly been complaining about financial difficulties and their inability to pay the money due. The Parliament of the Republic of Albania reduced by a considerable amount the financial obligations of private electronic media (Law no. 8794 of 10 May 2001 "On some amendments to law no. 8410 of 30 September 1998 On private and public radio and television in the Republic of Albania").

The Council was determined to implement the law in an effective manner. A number of radio and television broadcasters that have paid regularly have continually complained about the unfair competition from the Media that did not pay their share. The Council granted an extra 15 days to the suspended radio and television broadcasters to enable them still to fulfil their financial obligation.