Assistance and Frequent Asked Questions

Subjects

General

• What is the function of the National Television Council (CNTV)?
• What are the main differences between Law 18.838 of 1989 and that of 1992?
• What are the legal requisites required to install a television channel?
• What is the CNTV Fund?
• How does one apply for a grant from CNTV?
• What is Prix Jeunesse?

TV for children

• What is the percentage of programs for children in TV channels?
• 2001 results
• What is the quality percentage in TV for children?

Antennae Fund

• What is the antennae fund?

EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION

• What is Novasur?
• Who is backing Novasur?

IMPAIRED

• What does the hearing impairment law establishes in relation to TV channels?

CULTURAL PROGRAMMING

• How many hours of cultural programming should TV channels broadcast?
• Complements standards about cultural programming

LICENSES

• What is CNTV’s authority in relation to TV channels licenses?

ANSWERS

General

What is the function of the National Television Council  (CNTV)?

CNTV must watch over the proper operation of TV services, supervise and control contents of TV broadcastings in order to protect the moral and cultural values of the Nation, dignity of individuals, protection of the family; pluralism; democracy; peace; protection of the environment; spiritual and intellectual formation of childhood and youth within said framework of values.  Law 18.838.

What are the main differences between Law 18.838 of 1989 and that of 1992?

In 1970, CNTV was formed by seven members who were appointed in the following way:

• One by the President of the Republic with the Senate’s approval; this member will preside the Council.
• One freely chosen by the President of the Republic
• One appointed by the Supreme Court
• Two members appointed by the Commanders in Chief of the Armed Forces and Police
• Two members appointed by the rectors of Chilean universities.
• Duration in office: six years and possible reelection.
• In 1992 it was established that eleven members would staff CNTV.  Its President is appointed freely by the President of the Republic and remains in office for up to 30 days after the date the President who appointed him/her ceases to hold that position.

The President of the Republic with the Senate’s approval appoints the other ten Counselors.  According to law, the Chief of State must submit his proposals taking the proper care for the Council to be staffed in a pluralist fashion.  Likewise, the law stipulates that the President of the Council should be fit to guarantee due pluralism in the organization’s operation.

Council members must be individuals with relevant personal and professional virtues, views to be shared by both the President of the Republic and the Senate.  They last eight years in office and are re-elected by halves every four years.  Another difference is that before, the licenses were granted for an indefinite period of time and the concession holders could be natural persons.  Since 1992 licenses for open TV broadcasting are limited in time to 25 years and can only be operated by corporations.

What are the legal requisites required to install a television channel?

As a first requisite, applicants must deliver to the National Television Council an application containing all the relevant data and details of the TV license project to which he/she is postulating. Then CNTV will send a copy to Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones so that this organization issues a report relative to compliance of all the formal and technical requisites both legal and regulatory.  Based on this report CNTV will grant the concession. Law 18.838, Title III, April 1992.

What is the CNTV Fund?

This is a resources fund contributed each year by the government to CNTV to foster, finance and subsidize production, broadcasting or transmission of high level cultural programs or those of national or regional interest

This 1992 law stipulates that these resources should be assigned by means of a public bidding where free reception concessionaires and independent Chilean producers can participate.  Law 18.838, Article 12.

How does one apply for a grant from the CNTV Fund?

Once the requisites are published in January of each year, the interested parties may submit their projects within a definite timeframe.  The categories corresponding to each year can be seen through the website: www.cntv.cl or in their offices at Constituciòn 74, Santiago.

What is Prix Jeunesse?

It’s the world’s most important festival dedicated to promoting and rewarding quality of TV for children.  The mission of PRIX JEUNESSE INTERNATIONAL, created in 1964 in Germany, is to drive exchange of children programs among the different countries.  In the year 2001, the first exhibitions of this contest were shown in our country and then it was decided to carry it out again but at an Ibero-American level in 2003 in Chile.  www.prixxjeunesseiberoamericano.cl

TV for children

What is the percentage of programs for children in TV channels?

According to the latest study on “Quality of TV for children”, in 2001, only 9% of current open TV programming pertains to programs for children, a considerable drop when we compare it to the sixteen percent of 1997, year in which the previous study was carried out.

QUALITY OF PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN IN OPEN AND CABLE TV.  Main Results, 2001.

What is the quality percentage of children programming?

According to the latest study on “Quality of TV for children”, in 2001, only 12% of children programs are of high quality in open TV.  This percentage increases to 24% in cable TV, where Discovery Kids aired more high quality programs (63%), 33% of medium quality and 3% of low quality programs

QUALITY OF PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN IN OPEN AND CABLE TV, Main Results, 2001

Antennae Fund

What is the Antennae Fund?

It’s a fund contributed by the State to the National Television Council to finance or subsidize production, transmission or broadcasting of TV programs in those borderland, extreme or remote areas of the national territory where, due to their remoteness or scarce population, a business interest isn’t sufficiently attractive to motivate concessionaires of free reception services to reach those areas.

Since 1994 the Council has received and distributed, through public bidding, these extension funds.  Law 18.838, Article 13.

Educational TV

What is Novasur?

Novasur is a pioneering educational TV experience in Chile, which in conjunction with the Educational Reform, proposes to increase quality and fairness of education, using TV and other audiovisual means in the classroom.

It started out in 2000 and currently transmits curricular programs for primary school and high school levels in educational establishments located throughout Regions V and VI, to support the teachers’ task in the classroom. www.novasur.cl

Who is backing Novasur?

This TV channel is managed by the National Television Council and  backed by the Ministry of Education, ‘Fundación Andes’, VTR, SKY, National Television of Chile and UNICEF.  www.novasur.cl

IMPAIRED

What does the hearing impairment law establish in relation to TV channels?

Law 19.284, article 19, establishes that the Council will dictate the standards so that the national television system installs and operates the necessary audiovisual communication devices to enable the people with hearing impairments to have access to the news programs.  Law 19.284, Article 19

On November 12, 2002, Anatel agreed to complement the currently used language and implement a system that includes the sign language as another communication means to comply with existing legal provisions.  The channels associated to Anatel agreed to use sign language in one of their news programs. This, through an interpreter who should preferably be a listening person.  Minutes of November 18, 2002.

CULTURAL PROGRAMMING

How many hours of cultural programming should TV channels transmit?

CNTV establishes in Article 12 of Law 18.838 that TV channels should transmit at least one hour of cultural programs per week.  Meaning of “cultural program” is those programs dedicated to the arts or science, in a broad sense.

These transmissions should be aired during peak hours (high audience level), day part that runs from 18:00 to 23:00 hours.

On March 24, 2003, it was decided to complement the standard regulating cultural programming.  Complements Cultural Programming Standards.

LICENSES

What authority does CNTV have in relation to TV channels licenses?

CNTV must grant, modify and cease free reception TV broadcasting licenses.  It is also entitled to decide about transfer, cession, leasing or granting the right to use the free reception TV broadcasting license.

How long does the TV channels licenses last?

Since 1992, free reception TV broadcasting concessions last 25 years. Law 18.838, Article 15.

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