Responsibility of broadcasters for contents of radio and television programs in the light of the Broadcasting Act and enforcing this responsibility by the National Broadcasting Council

Abstract

Article 18 of the Broadcasting Act contains among other things regulations pointing that broadcasters cannot show programs, which encourage actions contrary to law, propagate attitudes and beliefs contrary to the moral values and social interest, include broadcasts discriminating on grounds of race, sex and nationality, do not respect the religious beliefs of the public, especially the Christian system of values. Regulations also forbid to broadcast programs which may threaten the physical, mental or moral development of minors. The paper presents examples of broadcasts whose contents break the regulations of the article 18. These are going to be the cases which were brought under control of the National Broadcasting Council, because in accordance with the Broadcasting Act this regulatory is entitled to enforce this Act and call broadcasters to account. The paper also shows the Council’s activity concerning creating precise regulations as to the protection of the youngest audience from harmful broadcasts. This article includes the assessment of the activities of the Council itself in the field of program supervision of broadcasters.