Radio And Television Law Adopted In Parliament

ANKARA (A.A) - 15.05.2002 - The parliament adopted early on Wednesday the law that foresaw amendment in the Law of Radio and Television Channels and Their Broadcasts.
The law was sent back to the parliament by President to be reconsidered and only the articles which were vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer were discussed in the parliament. The parliament adopted the law as it is.
According to the law, the broadcasts will be in line with the basic principles of the Constitution, with the principle of supremacy of law, basic rights and freedoms, national security, and ethics. The broadcasts won't provoke the society to violence, discrimination and animosity and they won't be against the national and spiritual values of the society and the Turkish family structure. The broadcasts won't violate the right to privacy.
According to the law, there won't be competitions on the phone, no prize will be given to people who watch tv at home.
The terms in office of the members of the Radio and Television Supreme Board (RTUK) will end after the appointment of new members. The members will be in office for four years. RTUK will be inspected by Prime Ministry Higher Inspection Board.
The law foresees appointment of the Director General of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) among candidates to be determined by the new RTUK.
Owners of private radio and tv channels can take part in public tenders and they can carry out transactions in stocks and bonds exchange market.
RTUK will warn radio and tv channels which don't fulfil their obligations, which violate the principles of broadcasting principles. If the channel repeats the same mistake, the program will be stopped. If the same violation is repeated again, a fine will be given to the channel between 125 and 250 billion liras. The fine will be between 5 and 100 billion liras for local tv channels. The amount of the fine will be half for radio broadcasts.
Separatist broadcasts will be stopped and the ones who are responsible for that should be punished.
The law also foresaw certain amendments in the Press Law. The scope of the crimes committed through press is broadened, while the fines were also increased. The crimes can at least be 10 billion and at most 100 billion liras.
The law also brings fine for crimes which is committed in the internet.