Conditions for the Production, Programming and Broadcasting of Campaign-related Programmes in State-owned Audiovisual Media for the Election of Senators of 25 March 2018

Order N° 006/MINCOM/CAB of 12 march 2018.

The Minister of Communication,

Hereby Orders as follows:

CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. (1) This Order lays down the conditions for the production, programming and broadcasting of campaign-related programmes in State-owned  audiovisual media for the election of Senators of 25 March 2018.
(2) The purpose of the programmes referred to in subsection (1) above shall be to provide free, fair and equitable access to all political parties taking part in the 25 March 2018 election of Senators on TV and in all the radio stations of CRTV, by ensuring to them the uniform conditions of production, programming and broadcasting.
(3) As such, this Order:
- lays down the general provisions applicable to State-owned audiovisual media;
- lays down the specific programming and broadcasting conditions for the above-mentioned broadcasts.
(4) The produced radio and TV programmes which are programmed and broadcast on TV and in all radio stations of CRTV as part of the election campaign programmes for the election of Senators of 25 March 2018 must comply with the laws and regulations in force.

Section 2.- (1) The programmes referred to in subsection 1 of Section 1 above should not be interrupted by advertising messages.
(2) They must be clearly identifiable and, in each case, preceded and terminated by a start and end jingle, bearing the following words:

"SENATORIAL ELECTION OF 25 MARCH 2018: THE FORUM FOR ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN".

Section 3.- The production, programming and broadcasting of campaign-related programmes for the election of Senators of 25 March 2018, by the State-owned audiovisual media  shall be cost-free.

Section 4.- (1) All political parties that endorsed candidates for the election of Senators of 25 March 2018 shall have a global airtime of 120 minutes per day on radio and 60 minutes per day on TV during the campaign period.
(2) The running order and the airtime allocation for each political party shall be fixed by an Order of the Minister of Communication after the recommendation of the National Communication Council.

CHAPTER II
PRODUCTION AND PROGRAMMING

Section 5.- With regard to radio, both at National Station and in ten (10) regional stations and commercial FM, the CRTV, shall, upon request, provide a technical crew, a studio and a recording medium meeting professional standards to candidates and political parties concerned.
 
Section 6.- (1) With regard to TV, CRTV shall provide candidates and political parties with a complete technical crew.
(2) The recordings shall be made at the CRTV National TV production centre in Yaoundé, or in CRTV regional stations equipped with a video reporting unit.
(3) The same decor shall be showcased for the various political parties and for their performance, both at the CRTV National TV production centre in Yaoundé and at the CRTV regional stations.
(4) Two shots of value shall be considered:
a) orator alone: close-up view at breast height ;
b) accompanied orator: close-up view at breast height, shot reserve shot technique, wide shot.

Section 7.- (1) Permitted propaganda programmes may be presented in the form of a statement, questions and answers, debates, comments or news magazines, or archive documents, or news reports.
(2) During the electoral campaign, journalists of State-owned audio-visual media, especially those producing editorials and commentaries relating to national activities, shall be subjected to the obligation of reserve.
Section 8.- (1) The State-owned media shall have  exclusive  right to  broadcast programmes produced within the framework of the electoral campaign for public interest, for the election of Senators of 25 March, 2018.
(2) This right shall include, the first broadcast and any reruns.
(3) The preservation of broadcasts shall be ensured by the Stated-owned audiovisual media.