BIRODI calls for an investigation: 20 television stations simultaneously broadcast Vučić’s speech from Jagodina

The Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) today called on the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) to investigate the circumstances in which a large number of television stations simultaneously broadcast the speech of the “United Serbia” list leader, Aleksandar Vučić, from the Jagodina rally, as Danas reports.

According to BIRODI, the speech was broadcast live simultaneously by 20 television stations: Informer, Vesti, Narodna TV, TV Red, Studio B, TV Sremska, Novosadska TV, TV Pančevo, Palma plus, TV Zona Plus, Televizija V5, TV AS, TV Kragujevac, TV Kruševac, TV Jefimija, Televizija Plus, TV Trstenik, TV K-1, TV Leskovac and Niš TV.

BIRODI stresses that the simultaneous broadcast of a political event does not in itself automatically mean a violation of the law. But, according to them, the fact that such a large number of television stations broadcast identical political content at the same moment raises the question of how real the diversity of political opinions offered to viewers is, especially during the election campaign period for the early elections of October 25.

BIRODI recalls that the Law on Electronic Media obliges media service providers to ensure free, objective, complete and timely information, as well as diversity of content and opportunities for the expression of different political and critical views.

Therefore BIRODI asks REM not to analyse the television stations only separately, but to also investigate the cumulative effect of the simultaneous broadcast of the same political content on a large number of channels. The regulator should monitor all the television stations mentioned and publish data on the duration and manner of the broadcast, the origin of the broadcast signal and the representation of other electoral actors in their programmes.

“The question REM must clarify is not whether a television station has the right to broadcast a political speech, but whether the systematic and wide distribution of the same political content, with the possible absence of comparative space for other political actors and critical thought, enables citizens access to diverse information,” BIRODI’s call states, as quoted by Danas.