Radio and television stations are exempt from paying media service provision fee

Published: 9 April 2021

National Media and Infocommunications Authority credits the media service provision fees for radio and television stations in the first quarter of this year. The payment obligations for the second quarter do not need to be met either pursuant to the relevant Government Decree of 8 April. The decision will improve the economic prospects of a total of 341 media service providers and thousands of employees who work there.

Government Decree on the different application of the rules of the Media Act on the obligation to pay media service provision fees during an emergency came into force on 8 April. In accordance with this Decree, commercial linear media service providers shall be exempt from paying the quarterly media service provision fee, due to the coronavirus pandemic, until the end of the quarter in which the emergency ends, as was the case last year.

Pursuant to the Government Decree, the National Media and Infocommunications Authority shall recognise the media service provision fees paid for the first quarter of 2021 as a fee due for the quarter following the quarter in which the emergency ends for those authorised to provide media services. The media service provision fees for the second quarter of this year do not need to be paid, so the 341 service providers concerned shall be entitled to an exemption from their fees of at least half a year.

This measure alleviates the economic and media market situation of a total of 374 operators, including 81 commercial radio and 293 television stations, affected by the coronavirus pandemic.