Guyana's state radio, TV to give political parties more airtime
Written by Denis Scott Chabrol
Tuesday, 01 November 2011 18:48
Source
Opposition political parties look set to get slightly more air-time on the state-owned radio and television stations, after they rejected a five-minute per week offer by the National Communications Network (NCN).
The decision to decision to increase the air-time was made at a meeting between NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Sataur and Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally.
“The meeting with GECOM was an amicable one and ended with both parties agreeing to obtain approval for an increase in the amount of airtime allocated to political parties as well as the option of purchasing additional airtime on both radio and television,” NCN said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
A senior NCN manager told Demerara Waves Online News ( www.demwaves.com ) that a recommendation would be dispatched to the radio and television broadcaster’s board for the duration to be increased to 10 minutes per week. However, all content would still have to be submitted 48 hours in advance to ensure that the technical quality and content are in keeping with established rules.
The 30-minute panel discussion will remain the same and political parties would be allowed to purchase additional time at rates lower than those in 2001 and 2006, the official said.
The official noted that NCN has already reduced the airtime cost of radio and television airtime.
The GECOM Chairman had agreed with the opposition political parties- mainly A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) – that the five-minute weekly offer was insufficient for them to promote their policies and programmes in time for the November 28 general election.
“The management of NCN reiterated their efforts to accommodate all political parties and stakeholders including a sizable reduction in the cost of the advertising and programme time which has already been implemented,” NCN added.
The state-owned broadcaster also pointed out that the GECOM chairman was also reminded of the offers of free airtime from NCN which has its genesis in the historic intervention by Guyana Television Broadcasting Company (GTV) and the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) which was further enshrined in the 2006 as well as the current GECOM media code of conduct.
APNU and AFC have argued that NCN is funded from the national treasury and so not only the government and the ruling Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) should have almost exclusive access to radio and television airtime of that state-owned entity.
Written by Denis Scott Chabrol
Tuesday, 01 November 2011 18:48
Source
Opposition political parties look set to get slightly more air-time on the state-owned radio and television stations, after they rejected a five-minute per week offer by the National Communications Network (NCN).The decision to decision to increase the air-time was made at a meeting between NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Sataur and Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally.
“The meeting with GECOM was an amicable one and ended with both parties agreeing to obtain approval for an increase in the amount of airtime allocated to political parties as well as the option of purchasing additional airtime on both radio and television,” NCN said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
A senior NCN manager told Demerara Waves Online News ( www.demwaves.com ) that a recommendation would be dispatched to the radio and television broadcaster’s board for the duration to be increased to 10 minutes per week. However, all content would still have to be submitted 48 hours in advance to ensure that the technical quality and content are in keeping with established rules.
The 30-minute panel discussion will remain the same and political parties would be allowed to purchase additional time at rates lower than those in 2001 and 2006, the official said.
The official noted that NCN has already reduced the airtime cost of radio and television airtime.
The GECOM Chairman had agreed with the opposition political parties- mainly A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) – that the five-minute weekly offer was insufficient for them to promote their policies and programmes in time for the November 28 general election.
“The management of NCN reiterated their efforts to accommodate all political parties and stakeholders including a sizable reduction in the cost of the advertising and programme time which has already been implemented,” NCN added.
The state-owned broadcaster also pointed out that the GECOM chairman was also reminded of the offers of free airtime from NCN which has its genesis in the historic intervention by Guyana Television Broadcasting Company (GTV) and the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) which was further enshrined in the 2006 as well as the current GECOM media code of conduct.
APNU and AFC have argued that NCN is funded from the national treasury and so not only the government and the ruling Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) should have almost exclusive access to radio and television airtime of that state-owned entity.
