Moldovan screens go local: 10% airtime for homegrown content
Moldova's television landscape is set to change with the introduction of a new quota mandating that TV stations dedicate at least 10% of their airtime to European works produced by independent Moldovan creators.
This requirement, stipulated in Article 6, paragraph 6 of the Audiovisual Media Services Code, takes effect on June 22, 2024.
"The intention is to promote and nurture national audiovisual production, ensuring viewers have access to diverse content reflecting Moldovan perspectives," explained the Council of Audiovisuals (CA) in a recent statement. The 10% quota excludes time allocated to news, sports, games, advertising, and non-programmatic segments like teletext and teleshopping.
The CA emphasised its commitment to monitoring compliance with this new regulation, incorporating it into their action plan for the year. However, the provision doesn't apply to radio stations, local or community television channels, news channels, sports channels, or those dedicated solely to teleshopping and advertising.
This move aligns with similar policies in other European countries aimed at strengthening domestic audiovisual industries and offering audiences a wider range of content. Whether this quota successfully achieves its goals remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly marks a significant shift for Moldovan television.
Translation by Iurie Tataru