New Media Law in the Works for Uruguay
New Media Law in the Works for Uruguay
2:07 PM PDT 5/28/2012 by Agustin Mango
The project aims to promote national production by demanding a 30% minimum air time for local contents.
BUENOS AIRES – Following a recent Latin American trend of strengthening regulation on the media business with anti-trust legislation, Uruguay is now preparing a new media bill to present in Congress next June, according to El Pais newspaper.
The project will divide the radio and TV spectrum by three, distributing one-third to private owners, one for community organizations, and one for the public sector. It’s a similar structure to the law neighbor country Argentina passed in late 2009, which triggered a ferocious opposition by big media conglomerates like Clarin Group, which has disputed the bill in the courts.
The Uruguayan bill is being drafted by the country’s Direction of Telecommunications, led by Sergio De Cola, who stated the government’s idea is to present it in Congress next month.
The Ministry of Culture and Education (MEC) is also involved in the writing. “We must advance on the regulation of content and promotion of local products,” said MEC’s Pablo Alvarez. He added: “We’re going to stress on local contents by giving them a minimum of 30% of screen air.”
More:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-media-law-works-uruguay-330073.”
