In force
Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
نظام الإعلام المرئي والمسموع
Regulates audiovisual media activities in Saudi Arabia, including licensing and the obligations of those who provide such content. It concerns media providers and content producers.
- Articles
- 25
- In force
- 25
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 25/3/1439 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم (م/33) بتاريخ 1439/3/25 هـ · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (170) بتاريخ 1439/3/24 هـ
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Audiovisual Media Law by topic
Scope of the Audiovisual Media Law6 articlesMedia Content Standards1 articleLicensing of Broadcasting and Audiovisual Media6 articlesObligations of Licensees2 articlesFrequencies, Competition and Beneficiaries' Rights4 articlesAudiovisual Media Violations and Penalties4 articlesAudiovisual Media and Grievance Committees3 articles
Articles of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
- Article 1The article defines the terms of the Audiovisual Media Law, such as media content, broadcasting, rebroadcasting, licensee, broadcasting license, broadcasting network, and the primary and appeal committees.
- Article 2The article sets the Law's aims: to regulate and develop audiovisual media activity in the Kingdom, provide a suitable investment environment, and keep its content consistent with the Kingdom's media policy.
- Article 3The article requires a license before carrying out any audiovisual media activity, in accordance with the Law and what the regulations set.
- Article 4Those working in audiovisual media are subject to the Law, its regulations and the professional conduct rules set by the Authority.
- Article 5Everyone who carries out an activity or profession in audiovisual media must comply with the content controls, and the article lists seventeen main controls.
- Article 6The article lists eleven duties of the licensee, depending on the type of license, including complying with license conditions and frequencies, keeping a record of what was broadcast for ninety days, and paying the license fee.
- Article 7Media broadcasting licenses are issued, renewed, amended, suspended and canceled with the approval of the Council of Ministers on the Authority's recommendation, and the regulations set the conditions.
- Article 8The Authority is competent to grant, amend, suspend, cancel and renew audiovisual media licenses, subject to Article 7, and the regulations set the license types, criteria, conditions and procedures.
- Article 9A media license may not be sold, assigned in whole or in part, or merged with another party, inside or outside the Kingdom, without the approval of the body that issued it.
- Article 10The article tasks the Board with setting the rules for determining the fee for issuing licenses and for the Authority's services under the Law and regulations, and the mechanism for collecting it.
- Article 11Before granting a broadcasting license that uses frequencies, the Communications and Information Technology Commission's frequency requirements must be met, and the Authority updates broadcasting equipment specifications and approves their import and clearance.
- Article 12The Authority protects the rights of beneficiaries and licensees and settles their disputes, unless one party is a telecommunications service provider, in which case the Communications and Information Technology Commission is competent.
- Article 13A broadcasting or rebroadcasting licensee must, when the Authority requests, provide any media content not yet shown, to obtain its approval before broadcasting or rebroadcasting it.
- Article 14Licensees may not harm the broadcasting, rebroadcasting or media production market, subject to the Competition Law, and encrypting content of national occasions that the Authority specifies is prohibited.
- Article 15The Authority must take the necessary legal action on violating content broadcast through foreign channels not licensed by it and received inside the Kingdom, as the regulations set.
- Article 16Violations of the Law and regulations are detected by employees appointed by decision of the President of the Authority who have the capacity of law enforcement officers.
- Article 17The article sets the penalties for violating the Law: a fine of up to SAR 10 million, suspension from the profession for up to six months, and license cancellation, with immediate enforcement and a doubled fine.
- Article 18The Authority may impose a fine of up to SAR 1 million, with appeal within sixty days, suspend broadcasting or a license as a precaution for up to sixty days, and hold equipment involved in a violation.
- Article 19The primary committee hears violations of the Law other than those within the Authority's competence, violations by a Saudi outside the Kingdom, and appeals against the Authority's fines, and may publish the penalty decision in three newspapers.
- Article 20The appeal committee hears appeals against the primary committee's decisions and the Authority's decisions on precautionary suspension of broadcasting or licenses. Its decisions are final and cannot be challenged.
- Article 21If a broadcasting or rebroadcasting license is canceled, suspended or not renewed, the Authority must take what is necessary to prevent harm to workers' interests and preserve their rights.
- Article 22Radio and television channels belonging to the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation at the time the Law takes effect are deemed licensed by operation of law, while remaining subject to the Law and regulations.
- Article 23The Minister issues the regulations on the Board's proposal within ninety days of the Law taking effect, publishes them, and issues the decisions needed to implement the Law.
- Article 24The article provides that the Audiovisual Media Law takes effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
- Article 25The article provides that the Audiovisual Media Law repeals all provisions that conflict with it.