The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) says it has no vendetta in the new broadcasting regulations that it is proposing.
Macra is currently consulting broadcasters on the draft Communications Act (Broadcasting/Content Services) Regulations 2015 which has made broadcasters raise eyebrows.
Macra Director of Broadcasting Fergus Lipenga said in an interview yesterday the new regulations are only aimed at upholding moral values, broadcasting professionalism and protect the broadcasting industry in Malawi.
He said among new inclusions in the Act, Macra wants to regulate phone-in programmes through making it mandatory for broadcasters to install Profanity/ Delay Machines which allow delay of broadcast to give chance for editing undesirable elements.
“This will allow presenters to hear material before it goes on air so that they edit it and avoid getting themselves into trouble. This will end insults on air and other undesirable incidences during live phone-in broadcast programmes,” said Lipenga.
He added that the new Act includes a specific roll-out period after an issuance of a broadcast licence which the current Act does not provide. The roll-out period for television is 12 months while radio is 6months after licence issuance.
He said the Act also intend to make broadcasters honor their licence fees which will enable Macra to have resources to inspect the broadcasters. The Act also intends to level the playfield through equal coverage of all political parties.
“Some broadcasters are airing obscene content anytime even when children are awake. We have included a watershed period which is between 10:30pm and 4:00am where such content can be broadcast and not anytime,” said Ligenga adding that the section will protect children from moral corruption.
He said the regulations are not new as they were first developed in 2008, first consultancy took place but only needed new consultations because the country has more broadcasters, new forms of broadcast, like internet broadcasting, have emmerged, and competition is now high.
After the consultations, broadcasters have been given 10 days to make further suggestions. Then the Ministry of Justice will make a draft law which will be taken back to the broadcasters for further scrutiny.
“We have had very fruitful discussion with broadcasters. Specifically Mr (Leonnard) Chikadya of Times Group was very open and he brought very fruitful input,” said Lipenga.
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