Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada passed at first reading a bill introducing the obligatory quota for television content in Ukrainian.
An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that 244 lawmakers backed bill No. 5313 amending some Ukrainian laws regarding the language of audio visual (electronic) mass media at the March 16 session.
The share of films in the state language must be at least 75 percent in each timespan between 07:00 and 18:00 and between 18:00 and 22:00 for national and regional television and radio broadcasting organizations and 50 percent for local broadcasting companies.
In addition, the amendments to the law on television and radio broadcasting say that TV and radio broadcasters, which use radio frequency bands or satellites for broadcasting are to ensure at least 75 percent of news blocks in Ukrainian in the timespans between 07:00 and 18:00 and between 18:00 and 22:00.
It is proposed to permit to take into account in the quotas programs in other languages if they are intended to prevent or neutralize threats to the national interests in the freedom of speech and information security in consultation with the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine.
According to the bill, the TV broadcast is considered in the state language if all news casters and speakers speak Ukrainian. It is possible to use other languages without dubbing in on-the-spot reports, interview, comments of invited participants and guests, musical clips and any compositions in Crimean Tatar language.
