GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY rescinded its decision to bar subscriber or cable television operators from broadcasting advertising, pending a court ruling.
The step-down came a week after the Broadcasting Commis-sion warned cable TV operators against carrying advertising content, causing howls of protest from the sector.
"A decision has been taken to seek resolution in law on the matter of the proper interpretation of Regulation 17 (1) (c) in the shortest possible time," said Information Minister Burchell Whiteman yesterday.
"Further, I advise that until that clarification has been obtained, it would be prudent to suspend the enforcement of any sanctions against subscriber television licensees in relation to Regulation 17 (1) (c)."
Senator Whiteman said the stay on the commission's stop order is as a result of the subsequent realisation that the interpretation of Regulation 17 (1) (c) of the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations made under the Broadcasting and Radio Rediffusion Act, which speaks to advertising on local cable channels, is "a matter to be determined in an upcoming trial in the Supreme Court".
LOCAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY
Cable TV operators have consistently argued that advertising support was necessary if a local production capacity was to be developed. On the other hand the Media Association of Jamaica, representing so-called free media, has objected to subscriber television operators enjoying revenue from fees as well as from advertising.
