ATHENS, Dec 6 (AFP) - Greece announced tighter ownership rules Monday to prevent media barons from using the power of their newspapers and television channels to win lucrative state procurements.
According to a draft law due to be enacted by the end of the year, companies with shareholders that own more than one percent of media firms, or otherwise wield significant influence over them, are barred from obtaining sizeable government contracts.
The law also bars business heavyweights from controlling newspapers and television channels through relatives, whether they be financially independent or not.
The bill also adds teeth to the powers of the country's media watchdog, the National Radio and Television Council (ESR).
"We make sure that media businesses will not be used as a ram to to extract concessions from the government to the detriment of public interest," said Greek government spokesman and media minister Theodoros Roussopoulos.
The country's private media are controlled by a few business conglomerates mainly active in construction, merchant marine and information technology. Most depend on state contracts for a living, particularly those in construction.
12/06/2004 14:50 GMT - AFP