Three Year Sobriety Poem

The English Socialist Government gave the green light today to the abolition of advertising on public television, approving the preliminary text of the bill which will be submitted to parliament during the summer and setting up the new financing key state television TVE. The project, according to the newspaper El Pais that could be implemented as early as next fall, envisages that the private TV and telecommunication groups contribute the new public television budget, offsetting the losses Advertising (478 million expected this year). The decision to "reduce drastically "advertising on public television was announced in parliament last month by Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero. After the meeting the government's deputy Maria Teresa de la Vega announced the adoption of the measure, which will be submitted in a first time the State Council and the Commission for the telecommunications market. "It 's time to make the decision to abolish advertising on TVE," he said.

The new financing plan approved by the government's public television provides Zapatero devolution to the future budget of the TVE of the proceeds of two new 3% tax on the revenues of private television (140 million) and 0.9% reduction for groups of telecommunications (290 million). The budget of the public TV will be 'earmarked a portion (240,000,000) of the tax already' sull'utilizzodelle existing radio frequencies. Finally, the State will contribute 'to his time with TVE 550 million annual budget, estimated at around 1.2 billion. The private TV stations have welcomed rather welcome the new device, whereas the riiporto benefit of much of the advertising 'that will not go' more 'on public television. Telecom groups have reacted rather negatively by saying that people will move on bills paid by the new tax of 0.9%. De la Vega responded to criticism of the telecom operators saying that''it seems reasonable that those who receive benefits and revenue'' additional''contribute in part to the funding of public service.'' The vice premier added that in other EU countries and a similar tax 'already' in place and you do not understand''why 'can not pay in Spain.'' The number two Zapatero has identified as a model for the future without TVE TV commercials that of the British public, because 'the BBC shows that''the quality' does not depend on having or not publicity ', but by having a clear model and count on sufficient resources to make good television. "

[from Michelozzi]