Background on the Situation of Social Television Concessions
During a recent series of five roundtable discussions organized by the Senate Chamber to debate on the upcoming Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law, Sergio Valles Rivas, president of the regional television AC system, addressed the challenges faced by generic social television concessions.
Valles Rivas’ Proposals
Valles Rivas proposed the following:
- No discriminatory regulations: Ensure equal rights, obligations, and prerogatives for all types of social concessions without distinction.
- Access to at least 10% of government communication budgets: Allocate a portion of public funds for social concession advertising, preventing political or governmental leaders from controlling ad placements and influencing editorial lines.
- Consider internet as a right, not a privilege: Promote equal access to digital platforms for social concessions.
Current Restrictions and Impact on Social Concessions
Valles Rivas explained that social concessions are currently barred from accessing commercial advertising, sponsorships, and even local official advertisements. This restriction became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when social concessions were unable to air local official spots.
He shared instances where social concessions faced sanctions for airing non-commercial local spots promoting addiction prevention, violence against women, and other important issues. These concessions had to prove there were no contracts or payments involved.
Commercial television stations can allocate up to 18% of their airtime for commercial advertising. Valles Rivas suggested increasing the allocated 1.1% per hour to 3%, but only for social airtime, excluding advertisements for products or services that negatively impact viewers’ health or violate their human or social rights.
Consensus on Strengthening Public Funding for Public and Social Use Media
Javier Corral, Secretary of the Radio, Television and Cinema Commission in the Senate and moderator of the roundtables, stated that there is a near-unanimous agreement to bolster funding for public and socially used media through various sources, not just by increasing advertising percentages in public budgets.
- Clarify figures like patronage, donations: Ensure clear definitions and regulations for these funding sources.
- Increase commercialization possibilities: Expand opportunities for advertising on social use media platforms.
Corral emphasized the importance of these media in shaping Mexico’s multi-ethnic, multicultural identity and political plurality. The proposals will be considered to enhance the new law’s decree.
