Slovakia's leading private TV stations JOJ and Markíza do not have a problem broadcasting what they say are sponsorship messages for the civic association 99 Percent, the Sme daily reported. However, public broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), the TA3 TV news channel and leading private radio station Expres regard the messages, which present a range of people who are standing as candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections for the 99 Percent – Civic Voice party, as political advertising, the daily reported.
“We can broadcast such a type of advertisement, but no sooner than 21 days before elections in the advertising blocks marked ‘political advertisement’,” said RTVS director Miloslava Zemková, as quoted by Sme. She was referring to a clause in Slovakia's electoral law which prohibits campaign advertising sooner than three weeks before the day of a general election. An election will take place this year on March 10.
None of the TV stations broadcasting the messages prepared by 99 Percent wanted to comment on the issue, Sme reported. However, the editors-in-chief of their news programmes have said that they do not see the broadcasts as violating the law.
“Here the news department is strictly divided from the advertising department,” said editor-in-chief of news programmes at TV Markíza Lukáš Diko, as quoted by Sme.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
