Russia is by far the largest European television market outside the area where EU law applies. The country's approximately 17% share of the entire European population means that the Russian television market has remarkable economic potential. Against this background, it is also all the more considerable how little information has been published outside Russia on the legal bases of, and conditions applying to, this market.This publication entitled "The Regulatory Framework for Audiovisual Media Services in Russia" in the IRIS Special series closes this gap. It provides a detailed analysis of the bases and regulatory framework for broadcasting in Russia and discusses in this context the adaptation of the legal framework to new audiovisual media services, drawing attention to the big differences between the EU and Russia and pointing out that these difference are due to the fact that the pace of development of digital media services in Russia is still slow.The publication, which has been written by Andrei Richter, Director of the Moscow based Institute for Media Law and Media Policy and one of Russia's outstanding media specialists, provides a comprehensive and precise picture of the regulation of broadcasting in Russia.Contents overview: - The national media policy- Key regulatory concepts and their interpretation- Licence requirements- The role of state broadcasting in contrast to public service broadcasting- Media ownership and concentration- Self- and co-regulation- Advertising: regulation and control- Product placement- Right of reply- Short reporting rights - Protection of morals and minors- Rights of national minorities- Restrictions to combat extremism- Means of regulatory intervention
Editorial
I. General aspects
1. National policy and general problems in the regulation of audiovisual services
a. General approach
b. Applicability of traditional requirements to new audiovisual media services (Mass character / Periodicity / Dissemination)
c. Attempts to introduce a separate law for online services
d. Development of new services: the State policy and "soft law"
e. Russia's position with regard to the Convention on Transfrontier Television
2. Key notions of the regulations and their interpretation
a. Freedom of broadcasting
b. Jurisdiction over audiovisual media services originating from third countries
c. Development of broadcasting
d. Government-private sector partnership
e. Uniform licensing for all audiovisual media services
f. Must-carry rules
3. Licensing requirements for audiovisual media services
a. System of dual licences (Broadcasting licence / Communications licence)
b. Legal instruments of television licensing today
c. Registration of media outlets
d. Specific aspects of the current licensing system (Status of the competition body / Criteria for competitions / Programme policy / Duration of licence /Transfer of licence / Revocation of licence and case law)
e. Line-up in the digital era
4. State versus public service broadcasting
a. Ideology of state broadcasting
b. State broadcasting as an alternative to public service broadcasting
c. Content obligations for state broadcasting
5. Media ownership and concentration
6. Foreign property
II. Specific areas
1. Right of reply
2. Product placement
3. Right to short reporting
4. Protection of public morals
5. Protection of minors
6. Rights of national minorities
7. Restrictions to counter extremism
III. Regulatory means
1. Self-regulation and co-regulation
a. Self-regulation mechanisms: charters and codes
b. Self-regulation and co-regulation bodies
c. Public control through boards at state-run channels
d. Obstacles to self-regulation
2. Regulation by the national regulatory authority: the case of advertising
a. Regulation of commercial speech
b. Monitoring and control of compliance with advertising rules
3. Co-operation with authorities outside of Russia
IV. Summary and Outlook
