Regulating Content by Agreement:
A Belarus Contract with Independent TV

        We, the below signed head of the department of press, radio and television of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus and the chief of administration of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, on the one side, and the heads of TV companies “MM-4,” “Ramos,” and “MKT,” on the other side, have agreed to the following:

1.  The Ministry of Communication shall lease to the companies named above the transmitter in the village of Kolodishchy for a calendar year cycle (in 1993: until December 31, 1993).

2.  In 1993-1994, the Companies shall, in accordance with the conditions of the competitive bidding process, broadcast for 1 year from the date of the commencement of broadcasting, with the right to extend the agreement and expand the air time as much as they find possible, and with the original schedule of broadcasting to be 6 hours at night, from 18 hrs. to 24 hrs., with a three-hour repeat each morning except on Mondays.

3.  As a condition of this agreement, the program schedule must include broadcasts of cartoons (movies) for children (up to 30 minutes) and one feature movie (in compliance with the requirements of the State Register).

4.  The Companies shall announce their programming in the metropolitan newspapers and newspaper “Respublika.”

5.  The Companies shall refrain from broadcasting political programs and providing air time to political parties, movements, and parliamentary factions, as well as any commentary on the official actions of state and governmental institutions.

6.  The Companies guarantee that they shall not sublet air time to other organizations.

Last Updated: 11/20/99

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