Search results : 1513

The recent referendum in Ireland on the question of whether to accept the Nice Treaty re-awakened some of the controversy surrounding political advertising. In the referendum campaign, activists from both sides of the debate were prevented from placing advertisements relating to the campaign on national and local radio and television. Section 10 subsection 3 of the Radio and Television Act, 1988 prohibits the broadcasting on radio or television of advertisements directed towards any religious or political end, or related to an industrial dispute. Earlier challenges to the constitutionality of...

The Parliament of the Czech Republic has passed a new Broadcasting Act, against which the President of the Republic has exercised his veto. He rejected the Act because it prevented competition by more or less entitling current broadcasters to have their licences automatically extended. However, the second parliamentary chamber overturned the veto on 26 June 2001. The Act is designed to transpose Directive 89/552/EEC on the Co-ordination of certain Provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member States concerning the Pursuit of Television Broadcasting Activities, as amended...

On 26 June 2001, the Swiss Bundesrat (Council of Ministers) adopted an amendment to the Radio- und Fernsehverordnung (Radio and Television Ordinance - RTVV), which will enter into force on 1 August 2001. The definition of advertising is brought into line with the amended Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television, which was adopted by the Swiss parliament in 2000. This means that self-advertising by a broadcaster, ie promotion of its own products and services (merchandising), is subject to advertising regulations (separation of advertising, maximum duration of advertising). References...

On 27 June 2001, the Austrian National Assembly's Constitution Committee adopted a far-reaching amendment to the Rundfunkgesetz (Broadcasting Act), which regulates the Österreichische Rundfunk (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation - ORF). The Act, which will in future be known officially by its abbreviation "ORF-Gesetz", was passed by the plenary National Assembly on 5 July 2001. The amendment will impose a new legal status on the ORF, which will become a public law foundation by 1 January 2002. Its official role will be to provide a universal broadcasting service for the benefit of the general public....

On 22 June 2001, on the occasion of the Luxembourg RTL Group conference held in Venice, Viviane Reding, the member of the European Commission responsible for Education and Culture, spoke about the amendments to be made to the "Television without Frontiers" Directive (hereinafter "the Directive") in the light of technological changes. In particular, Ms Reding considered that there are some areas where technological and market changes are posing serious challenges to the regulatory framework. The provisions of the Directive concerning advertising, for example, should be rethought, given the new...