Skopje, 4 October 2017 – Based on the monitoring reports concerning the media coverage of the elections, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services initiated misdemeanor procedures against Nova TV, Alsat-M TV and 24 Vesti.
The misdemeanor procedures against Nova TV and Alsat-M TV have been initiated due to their exceeding the limit for paid political advertising. The monitoring of Alsat-M TV found that, on 26 and 28 September 2017, respectively, this TV had allocated more time per real hour of broadcasted programme than stipulated by law, to the political parties represented in the Macedonian Parliament that which do not have an MP group. The monitoring of Nova TV on 28 September and 1 October 2017, respectively, established that this TV had allocated more than the permitted advertising time per real hour of broadcasted programme to the political parties of the opposition.
The misdemeanor procedure against the 24 Vesti TV has been initiated due to this TV’s non-abidance by the rules for publishing public opinion survey results in its news item titled “Seventh Day of the Local Election Campaign”, aired on 1 October 2017.
TV Alsat-M – Article 75-e, Paragraph 1, of the Electoral Code – 03.10.2017
TV Nova – Article 75-e, Paragraph 1, of the Electoral Code – 03.10.2017
TV 24 Vesti – Article 77, Paragraph 2, of the Electoral Code – 04.10.2017