Kyrgyzstan

[KG] Statute on National Broadcasting Corporation Adopted

IRIS 2007-6:1/21

Nadezhda Deeva

Moscow Media Law and Policy Centre

On 2 April 2007, President Kurmanbek Bakiev of the Kyrgyz Republic signed into law the Statute “On the National Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation”, which had been adopted by the Zhogorku Kenesh (parliament) on 8 June 2006. Many observers heralded this act as a major step towards transforming the state broadcasting company into a public service broadcaster.

The new act determines the main provisions concerning the legal status of the Corporation, the financial aspects of its activity, and questions of advertising and sponsorship. The Corporation has the legal status of a state agency: its rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the State. Among the goals of the Corporation are the maintenance of national interests, national culture and traditions, the formation of a common information and broadcasting space, the creation of a positive world image of the Kyrgyz Republic as a democratic country, as well as the production of high quality programmes on socially important issues.

The Corporation consists of the Republic Radio and Television Centre, state television and radio broadcasting facilities, the Kyrgyztelefilm production company, as well as the regional state broadcasters. The management of the Corporation shall be the responsibility of the Supervisory Board and the Director-General. The Supervisory Board is the supreme body of the Corporation; it consists of 15 members elected for five years by the national parliament, five from the ten candidates proposed by the president, five from the ten candidates proposed from the parliament itself, and five from the ten candidates from civil society, that is “academic institutions, public associations, the mass media, etc.” (Art. 13). The Director-General is the executive manager of the Corporation elected by the Supervisory Board.

The activity of the Corporation is based on the principles of transparency. Its annual report will be delivered to the president and parliament and will be published in the press.

According to Article 20 of the Statute the main source of financing of the Corporation are incomes from its commercial activity, the sale of intellectual property, and sponsorship.

Article 9 contains provisions on advertising. It imposes the following limits: only ten per cent of both the daily and hourly broadcasting time can be used for advertising. Advertising of tobacco and alcohol products is forbidden.

Article 7 allows the Corporation to offer for tender up to 30 per cent of the broadcasting time for independent producers. Only 40 per cent of all programmes broadcast can be supplied by foreign producers. Moreover 50% of all programmes should be in the Kyrgyz language.