From which medium a channel may broadcast depends on the licence it has obtained. The Law brings a rule of a separate licence for each medium.
A Separate Licence for Each Medium - Art. 27/1
Media service provider organisations must obtain separate licences from the Supreme Council for each broadcasting technique and medium in order to broadcast from the cable, satellite, terrestrial and similar media. The broadcasting technique and medium for which the licence is given is expressly stated in the licence document.
| Medium | Is a separate licence required? |
|---|---|
| Cable | Yes |
| Satellite | Yes |
| Terrestrial | Yes |
| Internet | Yes - Art. 29/A |
| "and similar" | The list is open-ended |
Retransmission Is a Separate Matter
We cover retransmission in the retransmission guide.
Duration and Tender - Art. 27/2
The broadcasting licence lasts ten years. Terrestrial broadcasting capacity that falls vacant at the end of the licence period is put out to tender again by the Supreme Council.
The Prohibition of Transfer - Art. 27/3
The Conditions for Granting a Licence
Art. 37/1-c: the Supreme Council is charged with determining the administrative, financial and technical conditions necessary for media service provider organisations to be able to request a broadcasting licence, and with giving a broadcasting licence to those meeting the conditions, supervising them and revoking it where necessary.
The conditions relating to the company structure are in Art. 19; we cover the application process in the licence application guide.
The Situations in Which a Licence Is Revoked
| Situation | Basis |
|---|---|
| A second repetition of a breach of Arts. 8/1-a, b, d or 8/4 | Art. 32/5 |
| A second repetition after more than twenty breaches in a year in the other subparagraphs | Art. 32/5 |
| Continuing to broadcast despite a sanction decision | Art. 32/5 |
| Loss of one of the licence conditions - after thirty days + three months' suspension | Art. 32/6 |
| Obtaining compliance with the conditions by deception | Art. 32/7 |
| A contravention after a transfer/merger not remedied within ninety days | Art. 20/3 |
| A third repetition of a contravention of broadcast bans and restrictions | Art. 7/4 |
We cover the detail in the revocation guide.
The Consequence of Unlicensed Broadcasting
We cover the detail in the unlicensed broadcasting guide.
Summary
Under Art. 27 of Law No. 6112 media service providers must obtain a separate licence for each medium - cable, satellite, terrestrial and similar - and must broadcast simultaneously if they will broadcast from different media at the same time. The licence lasts ten years; terrestrial capacity falling vacant at the end of the period is put out to tender again. A terrestrial broadcasting licence may not be transferred; an organisation that does not continue its activity returns its licence to the Supreme Council.