AKTV Positions

Statement of the Association of Commercial Television on the “Big Media Amendment” introduced by Minister of Culture Baxa in September 2023

OCTOBER 2023

Media associations representing the most important media houses, television and radio broadcasters, online and press publishers have united forces in a joint appeal to Culture Minister Martin Baxa. He introduced the “major media amendment” regulating the financing of the public media, Česká televize (Czech Television) and Český rozhlas (Czech Radio). However, during the preparation of the draft, there was no discussion about the potential impact on the media market as a whole.

DETAIL OF POSTTION

SEPTEMBER 2023

At a press conference on 5 September 2023, Culture Minister Martin Baxa together with representatives of the five-coalition government presented the Amendment to the Act on Czech Television and Czech Radio and the Act on Radio and Television Fees.

During the press conference, it was repeatedly stated that the Ministry is in regular contact with representatives of broadcasters, that the draft amendment has been discussed with them, and that during its preparation, emphasis was placed on avoiding distortion of the media market.

DETAIL OF POSTTION

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) and amending Directive 2010/13/EU (EMFA)

MAY 2023
As the Association of Commercial Television (AKTV), we understand that the European Commission’s objective in presenting this proposal is to ensure that media service providers are able to provide their services freely and independently in an open and transparent market, a market that allows for a plurality of media actors and opinions, and we are aware that independent media services play a unique role in the internal market. Although we believe that there is no need for further regulation for broadcasters, and we have already pointed out that we would prefer deregulation, if there is a consensus in the European area that regulation should be adopted, what we need to address in particular are the practical implications for broadcasters.
DETAIL OF POSTTION

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (“Strategic lawsuits against public participation”, “SLAPPs”)

JUNE 2023

Updated statement of the Association of Commercial Television (AKTV) following an agreement by EU Member States on a general approach. As we stated in our position last July, we support and welcome the efforts of the EP and the Council…

DETAIL OF POSITION

JULY 2022

As broadcasters, we support and welcome the efforts of the EP and the Council to promote democracy and strengthen the plurality of views in order to protect journalists and other human rights defenders in general.

DETAIL OF POSITION

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transparency and targetting of political advertising

JULY 2022
With regard to the ongoing negotiations on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on transparency and targeting of political advertising, we consider it necessary to emphasise at the outset that the problems of the internal market relating to political advertising concern only the online environment, and our opinions, which we set out below, follow from this real situation.
DETAIL OF POSITION

Television broadcasting in the Czech Republic is governed by applicable laws, be they general legislation or specialised laws on advertising, audiovisual services or copyright.

NATIONAL LAW

The main regulations governing TV broadcasters in the Czech Republic:

EU LAW, INCLUDING
LEGISLATION IN PREPARATION

Regulations