1. The document outlines media ownership in Moldova, including state-owned media like the press agency and official publications, as well as public broadcaster TeleRadio Moldova. It also lists the numbers of private print, TV, radio and online media outlets. 2. It provides data on the audience shares of some of the largest broadcasters such as Moldova 1, Prime TV, and 2 Plus. It also identifies the owners of these major broadcasters. 3. The legal framework section summarizes the key laws related to media ownership transparency in Moldova, including the Press Law, Broadcasting Code, Electoral Code, and initiatives by civil society to strengthen transparency requirements.

1. Moldovan Media Ownership Transparency factsheet
State-owned media
1 Press Agency
44 official publications
De-etatization by February 2013 of local official press
Public media
TeleRadio Moldova
TeleRadio Gagauzia
Private media
Print
367
TV
57
Radio
58
Press Agencies
8
Online news portals
≈ 25

2. Moldovan broadcasters with nationwide coverage
Maestro FM
60%
Hit-FM
62%
Canal 3
63%
Radio Noroc
71%
Vocea Basarabiei
72%
Prime FM
Publika TV
2 Plus
76%
85%
89%
Prime TV
Moldova 1
Radio Moldova
* according to the Broadcasting Council of the Republic of Moldova
96%
99%
100%

3. Broadcaster
Owner
Audience share in
March 2012
Market share in
March 2012
Moldova 1
1st national/state
network
National Public Broadcasting Institution
since 2002
34.5%
13.3%
PRIME TV Ltd./ founder OTIV Prime Media
B.V. (Amsterdam)
47.9%
24.3%
PRIME TV Ltd./ founder OTIV Prime Media
B.V. (Amsterdam)
6.9%
2.9%
Nationwide
outreach since July
2012
Nationwide
outreach since
July 2012
Prime TV
3rd national/state
network
2 Plus
2nd national/state
network
Publika TV
Ştiri Media Group/ ROCHDALE
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (Australia)
Since 2012 Ştiri Media TV/ INTROSTYLE
SOLUTIONS (Great Britain)
Prime FM
(former state-owned
Antena C)
PRIME TV Ltd./ founder OTIV Prime Media
B.V. (Amsterdam)
1.0%
1.3%
Canal 3
PRIME TV Ltd./ founder OTIV Prime Media
B.V. (Amsterdam)
Established in
August 2012
Established in
August 2012
Maestro FM
PRIME Ltd./ founder OTIV Prime Media
B.V. (Amsterdam)
0.7%
0.8%

4. Moldovan Legal Framework as to the Media Ownership Transparency
 Press Law of 1994
-
foreign citizens cannot hold more that 49% of the statutory capital as
founder
-
Article 12-13: periodicals and news agencies must publish twice a year the
information about the source and value of donations received in the
country and abroad and in every issue the title of the publication, the
founder, the name of the editor, the number and date of print, price per
copy, address of the editorial office and of the printing house, postal code,
circulation and number and date of registration

5.  Broadcasting Code of 2006
-
Article 7 provides that the concentration of ownership shall be limited to
dimensions that would ensure economic efficiency without generating a
dominant position in forming public opinion.
-
Article 23 stipulates that the broadcasting licenses shall be issued according to
the principle of ensuring pluralism in broadcasting, excluding monopoly and
concentration of property.
-
Article 27 provides the sanction of withdrawing the broadcasting license for
violating the ownership regime in broadcasting sector.
-
Article 28 requires applicants for broadcasting license to state to the BCC the
identification data about the applicant and information about participation in
other mass media as founder (shareholder).
-
Article 41 provides that the BCC shall ensure transparency of broadcasting
media ownership.
-
Article 66 provides that a national or foreign natural or legal person can be an
investor or majority shareholder, directly or indirectly, in not more than two
broadcasters of different types.

6.  Electoral Code
- broadcasters involved in covering elections must disclose their editorial
policy and owners to the Broadcasting Council
 Law on Access to Information provides access to official information,
including information held by the authorities in media sector.
 Law on Entrepreneurship and Enterprises
- enterprises must abide by the rules of conduct in the market under
conditions of free competition, must respect the legitimate rights and
interests of consumers.

7. Civil Society Initiatives
 Draft Broadcasting Code by AELP
- provides clear requirements as to the transparency of broadcasters` ownership
- enables the broadcasting authority to achieve and protect transparency of
ownership and fair competition
- provides balanced penalties for violation of the ownership regime
 Draft Law on Amending the Broadcasting Code by ICJ
- envisages a two-stage intervention: i) applicants for broadcasting license shall
disclose the beneficial owner as defined therein and provide additional
information as to the ownership at request, whereas failure to comply leads to
elimination from the contest; ii) licensed broadcasters shall disclose annually
under penalty their ownership structure.
 Best Practice Guidebook on Transparency of Media Ownership by IPA
- a media self-regulation tool