Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a law amending the law of Ukraine on television and radio broadcasting regarding regulations on the broadcasting of paid interactive quizzes, the president's press service reported on March 3.
The law prohibits the broadcasting on all channels (except for channels with limited access) of programs with interactive contests, games and quizzes that foresee paid participation or which propose that the audience make a paid phone call or send a paid message to the TV or radio channel to win money or another prize in an interactive contest.
The ban does not refer to the broadcasting of lotteries, art contests or sports competitions, regardless whether their rules foresee a cash or material prize.
Neither does the law forbid broadcasts of free-of-charge prize draws with the aim of advertizing certain goods, services, trademarks, brands of goods or services, names or spheres of economic activity, commercial programs for the distribution of cash and material prizes, contests, games, quizzes that envisage free-of-charge participation or cash or material prizes.
According to the law, channels with limited access are allowed to broadcast paid interactive contests with constant on-screen warning about the number of calls and chances to connect with the studio, as well as warnings that participation in these contests costs money.
According to the law, such warnings should take not less than 20% of the screen and the color of text of the warnings should be bright and high contrast.
The document also foresees that voice announcements about paid participation in such contests should be made every five minutes during the broadcasting of the program.
The Verkhovna Rada passed the bill on Feb. 9, 2012.
