Search results : 1507

The Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Federal Administrative Court - BVerwG) ruled, in a judgment of 22 June 2016 (Case 6 C 9.15), that a broadcaster is in breach of the ban on surreptitious advertising if it fails to identify advertising content in one of its programmes when the purpose of the programme does not provide sufficient justification for this. The plaintiff, which operates the TV channel “Sport1”, aired the programme “Learn from the Pros”, originally produced for the American TV market, in which professional poker players provide tips for playing the game. The plaintiff had acquired the programme...

On 17 June 2016 the Federal Council published a much awaited report on the public-service electronic media. The report will be discussed in the Federal Parliament in the autumn, in a particularly tense political climate as the Swiss broadcasting company (Société Suisse de Radiodiffusion et Télévision - SSR) is being severely criticised regarding its funding and its mission as a public-service broadcaster. The report begins by analysing the evolution of the audiovisual public service and the offer and consumption of electronic media in Switzerland. It also presents the technological, economic, legal,...

The new Advertising Act (”Official Gazette of RS“, No. 6/2016), which was adopted by the Serbian Parliament on 26 January 2016, became effective as of 6 May 2016. The new law supersedes the former Advertising Act, which has been in force since 2005 (“Official Gazette of RS“, No. 79/2005). According to the statements made by the representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, the new law aims to harmonise with the relevant European legislation, as well as to establish a legal framework that would be able to withstand technological challenges. The new law is applicable...

At its meeting in Halle on 26 April 2016, the Kommission für Zulassung und Aufsicht (Commission on Licensing and Supervision - ZAK) of the Landesmedienanstalten (Regional Media Authorities) reached a decision on breaches of advertising rules. It criticised three cases of unlawful product placement and two involving the inadequate separation of advertising and programming content. The three cases of unlawful product placement it criticised were in the TV show “Germany’s Next Topmodel” on the ProSieben channel operated by ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland GmbH. In the media watchdogs’ opinion, the focus...

On 5 May 2016, the Parliament of the Czech Republic adopted Act no. 139/2016 Coll., amending Act no. 496/2012 Coll., On audiovisual works and promotion of cinematography, and amending some other laws (the Audiovisual Act). The aim of this amendment is to secure sufficient funding to support cinematography. This should enable the long-term planning and predictable funding of the State Fund of Cinematography, so that it can create a long-term strategy of supporting the cinema. The State Cinematography Fund was established on 1 January 2013, pursuant to the Audiovisual Act. The Act defines the purpose...