11/02/2019 17:50
MP Hrach Hakobyan offers restricting totalizator ads in media websites
National Assembly MP Hrach Hakobyan offers to restrict the ads of totalizators in mass media.
“It is not about banning the ad, but restricting it. I mean putting time and territorial restrictions,” Hakobyan said, speaking to Aysor.am.
The initiative of the My Step MP raised dissatisfaction of media field, with some of them claiming that the ban of the ad may make media source go bankrupt and close as a result.
The MP said the amendments he offers to the law are being commented in a wrong way as he is just offering some restrictions.
Days ago the MP met with mass media representatives and expects proposals by February 15. The bill is currently being worked out.
Asked how he imagines the time changes of ads in media websites, Hakobyan said, “The ads before watching media material may be short.”
The MP said that the applied amendments will not cause financial harm to the websites.
“The law will given the ad managers an opportunity to work over bringing other advertisements like for instance of wine factory or other productions. I think it is possible. But to state that this legal initiative is against freedom of mass media is ridiculous,” the MP said.
Hakobyan also said that two days ago he initiated a poll in Facebook but he claims that representatives of totalizator organizations ‘reported’ the poll as a result his Facebook page has been blocked.
“The polls showed that 60% are against the ads and 40% is for. The representatives of totalizator organizations ‘reported’ the poll and till now my page is blocked. I have written a letter to Facebook and now I am waiting for a response,” Hakobyan wrote.