Bulgaria

[BG] A Report on the Quota of European Works

IRIS 2012-10:1/25

Rayna Nikolova

New Bulgarian University

In regard to the application of Articles 16 and 17 of the Directive for Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS Directive), respectively Article 19a of the Bulgarian Radio and Television Act (RTA) for 2011 on the quota of European works in programmes of the linear media services providers, the members of the съвет за електронни медии (Council for Electronic Media (CEM)) adopted a report in the beginning of November 2012.

The summary for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2011 contains data about 47 television programmes with national coverage and 28 linear media services providers. A letter of request was sent to the linear media services providers and nearly all of them have answered the letter. Only 3 linear media providers have not responded.

More than half (27) channels fulfilled the quota of broadcasting time for European works. According to the data, the quota for independent productions was fulfilled by 23 channels.

In only 4 television programmes the percentage of time for European works was less than 10 %. Two of them are programmes of the provider “Fox International Channels”. In his response, the provider “Fox International Channels Bulgaria” has explained that the low percentage of European works in the programmes “Fox Crime” and “Fox Life” is due to their thematic specialty (the programmes represent "the civil- and criminal-legal system in the United States” and “the American way of life").

In CEM’s report it is also emphasized that the designated time for European works in television programmes according to the AVMS Directive should be reserved "when it is practically possible". The conclusion in CEM’s report is that the principle "when it is practically possible" set in the Directive gives a ground to a more liberal interpretation of the provisions which are perceived as desirable by the Directive.