Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The decision of the National TV & Radio Broadcasting Council of Azerbaijan has caused a kickback of the remedial community. This time the subject of criticism was a ban on broadcasting of foreign soap operas by the national broadcasters.

The first protest was expressed by the Media Rights Institute (MRI) which called the Council’s decision the introduction of censorship on national television, violation of the right for freedom of expression and restriction of the right of access to quality TV production. In the Institute’s opinion, the decision can not be supported by the protection of some legitimate public interest. The attempt to justify the decision by "the formation of the younger generation" is considered by the Institute pointless from legal viewpoint. The MRI thinks the decision will undermine the national broadcasting industry and reduce its already small audience to transfer to cable and satellite broadcasters to gain direct access to the banned products.

"The NTBRC decision contrasts to the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the European Convention on Human Rights, as it is incompatible with freedom of expression. It harms the national broadcasters and should be abolished," the Institute claimed.

The ban will be introduced since May 2012. The NTBRC believes that airtime of foreign serials will be filled by local soap operas, for production of which each of the local TV channels received AZN 300,000. For comparison, only one series of a high-quality foreign soap opera can have budget of AZN 300,000 ($380,000).

24.12.2011 10:47