Poroshenko signs law on public broadcasting company

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the law on public television and radio broadcasting.

Poroshenko signed the document during the presentation of the national public broadcaster at Mystetsky Arsenal in Kyiv, and he said that "friends, public broadcasting will be!"

As reported, on March 19, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the law specifying the mechanism to set up the public broadcasting company.

The law specifies the provisions of the law on defining the mechanism to create the National Public TV and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, its organizational-legal form, its source of funding, and the conditions of the payment of wages.

The law states that public TV and radio broadcasting in Ukraine is created as the public join-stock agency "National Public TV and Radio Company of Ukraine;" and 100% of its shares belong to the state.

The agency is created on the basis of the National TV Company of Ukraine, the National Radio Company of Ukraine, "Culture" state TV and radio company, regional state TV and radio companies, "Crimea" state TV and radio company, state organizations of Kyiv state region TV and radio companies, Seavstopol regional state TV and radio company, "Siverska" Novhorod-Siversky regional state TV and radio company, "Kryvorozhye" Kryvy Rih regional state TV and radio company and "Ukrtelefilm" TV movies studio that will be reformed by joining the National TV company of Ukraine.

The creation of the "National Public TV and Radio Company of Ukraine" agency will be carried out upon the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

"National Public TV and Radio Company of Ukraine is an object of nationwide importance. Dispossession, transfer (except for short-term rent), privatization of immovable property, objects of unfinished construction, land lots they are located on, and shares belonging to the state in company's charter capital are prohibited," reads the adopted law.

The law defines the provisions that must be reflected in the charter of the public broadcasting company.

In addition, the law stipulates that company's supervisory council will elect the Chairman of the Board through a tender, and that members of the board will be elected upon its suggestion.

The adopted law states that the supervisory council will consist of eight representatives elected by MP factions and groups in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and nine members elected by public unions and associations.

The adopted amendments stipulate the company will be funded via a subscription fee.

The law also foresees that the "National TV Company of Ukraine broadcasts on no less than two nationwide channels of a multichannel TV network (public-cultural and culture-educational), on regional channels of a multichannel TV network, and on no less than three nationwide radio channels (public-cultural, culture-educational and youth)."

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