TV stations that do not start broadcasting before deadline will stay without frequency

- In case TV Fox, which got national frequency, does not start broadcasting before the deadline, it may lose its license - said Slobodan Đorić, a member of the RRA Council. Certain media recently announced that, according to the tender documentation, which was delivered by that media company to RRA, that TV station intended to start broadcasting in March next year, although the deadline was 60 days from the day it obtained license.

Đorić stated that RRA would soon issue the license for broadcasting to TV Fox.

That TV station has the deadline of 60 days from the day it obtains license to start broadcasting. In case some changes to the Law are adopted, the deadline will be extended to 90 days. If Fox does not start broadcasting by then, the sanction will be applied. Some exceptions to the rule are possible if the problems occur with the transmitter. In that case RATEL will set the deadline for technical repairs.

According to Đorić, the fine for violations of this kind is not the same as for the programme penalties. First, there is internal fine, then the public warning, yellow card, confiscation of license on period of 30 days and, finally, permanent confiscation of frequency.

Đorić pointed out that there was omission in the Law, because there was no difference between TV stations that already broadcasted programme and those who were in the founding phase. According to his words, two months is enough for TV station that alreay broadcasts programme to adapt to the newly created conditions.