Order of propaganda, order of reality shows: How the obligation to show children’s and cultural programs is thrown out

Although, according to the previous by-laws, television stations with a national frequency had the obligation that a fifth of their content should be so-called quality programs (scientific-educational, cultural-artistic, documentary and children’s programs), if the new draft of the Rulebook on conditions and criteria for issuing a license is adopted for providing a media service – that obligation will no longer exist.

Cenzolovka reminds that the currently valid rulebook on that area states that “a quality program is considered a program in which scientific-educational, cultural-artistic, documentary or children’s programs, i.e. programs for minors, together or individually, make up more than 20 percent of the total annual published program “, and in the draft of the new Rulebook – there is not even a word about it.

Instead of a quality program, the draft of the new Rulebook mentions “diversity” and does not deal specifically with the quality of content.

According to the proposed Rulebook, television stations would be required to show several different types of programs, “such as informative, educational, cultural, scientific, sports, entertainment and other program contents”. As before, there is no specified minimum display of the so-called quality program, which practically means that televisions can either not show it or show it minimally.

In practice, this means that TV Pink could only broadcast reality, entertainment and informational programs all day long, without the obligation to broadcast scientific, documentary or children’s programs.

Despite the fact that the reports of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) showed that televisions with a license to broadcast with national coverage do not show “quality programming” to a sufficient extent (or do not show it at all), even though the by-laws prescribed certain obligations, which some REM Council that respects the rules could react to non-compliance.

Ivana Stevanovićthe executive director of the Slavko Ćuruvija foundation, says that, “if this Rulebook is adopted, we could expect a series of propaganda and a series of reality shows on national TV channels”.

“The REM reports themselves, when they were published, state that these programs, which practically cease to be mandatory, were previously broadcast in millions. Instead of imposing measures and, ultimately, revoking licenses, REM is now legalizing the reckless behavior of broadcasters.“, points out Stevanović.

When asked how REM will assess what constitutes a quality program, if the Rulebook is adopted with this amendment, the president of the Council of this body Olivera Zekić she told the journalists of Cenzolovka not to “run in front of the ore”.

“Slowly. Public discussion is there to change somethingZekić said.

And about why REM decided to remove the part about the quality program, he answers briefly: “Read the worst Law on Electronic Media and you will understand. It will certainly have to change.“