Romanian audiovisual watchdog applies harshest penalty on OTV for political advertising

The National Audiovisual Council in Romania (CAN) has decided to halve the audiovisual license for TV station OTV, as the TV station continuously runs political advertising for the party Partidul Poporului Dan Diaconescu (the People Party), created and run by the OTV founder, even if the election campaign has not started yet. The TV station will only be allowed to broadcast until September 28 this year. Its license would have expired on April 1, 2013. This is the harshest penalty applied by the can so far.

The messages broadcast on OTV in November and December 2011 and in January this year were supporting the 'future president of Romania', Dan Diaconescu, the owner of the TV station. It was not the first time when OTV was penalized by the audiovisual watchdog in Romania, which previously applied fines in cash and interrupted broadcasting for various periods since the beginning of this year. Dan Diaconescu, who attended the CNA meeting where this decision was made, said he has never advertised for a certain party, and that he has not position in the party, even if itwas named after him. However, he has toured across the country supporting the party. Diaconescu accused CNA members of being used by the Romanian president Traian Basescu, who is allegedly publicly opposing him. On top of it, he accused the CNA members of impartiality, because of their affiliation to various political parties. editor@romania-insider.com