Article 10 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
المادة 10 من نظام الإعلام المرئي والمسموع
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يضع المجلس قواعد تحديد المقابل المالي لإصدار التراخيص، وما تقدمه الهيئة من خدمات بموجب النظام واللائحة، وآلية تحصيله.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 10 explained in plain English
This article concerns the financial side of licenses and services. It tasks the Board, meaning the board of directors of the General Authority for Audiovisual Media under Article 1, with setting:
- The rules for determining the fee for issuing licenses.
- The rules for determining the fee for the services the Authority provides under the Law and regulations.
- The mechanism for collecting it.
The Law does not state amounts; it leaves the setting of the fee rules to the Board. So anyone who wants to know the cost of a particular license refers to the rules the Board sets, not to the Law.
Note that the article refers to "rules for determining" the fee, meaning the Board sets the bases and criteria by which the fee is calculated.
This article is linked to Article 6, which requires the licensee to pay the license fee when it falls due. Article 10 determines who sets the fee rules, and Article 6 determines the duty to pay.
An investor studying the feasibility of a media project should take this fee into account and check the rules in force at the Authority. If there is a dispute over the amount of the fee due, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in media regulation and administrative matters.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 10 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
Who determines the fees for audiovisual media licenses?
The Authority's board of directors sets the rules for determining the fee for issuing licenses and for the Authority's services, and the mechanism for collecting it.
Does the Law state the amount of the license fee?
No. The article leaves it to the Board to set the rules for determining the fee.
When must the fee be paid?
Article 6 requires the licensee to pay the license fee when it falls due.
More articles on Licensing of Broadcasting and Audiovisual Media
- Article 3
The article requires a license before carrying out any audiovisual media activity, in accordance with the Law and what the regulations set.
يجب قبل ممارسة أي نشاط من أنشطة الإعلام المرئي والمسموع الحصول على ترخيص بذلك، وفقاً لما ورد في النظام، وما تحدده اللائحة.
- Article 7
Media 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.
تصدر التراخيص الخاصة بالبث الإعلامي، وتجدد، وتعدل، وتعلق، وتلغى؛ بموافقة مجلس الوزراء بناء على توصية من الهيئة، وتحدد اللائحة الشروط والضوابط الخاصة بذلك.
- Article 8
The 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.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في المادة (السابعة) من النظام، تختص الهيئة بمنح التراخيص اللازمة لأنشطة الإعلام المرئي والمسموع، أو تعديلها، أو تعليقها، أو إلغائها، أو تجديدها
- Article 9
A 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.
لا يجوز بيع الترخيص، أو التنازل عنه أو جزء منه، أو الاندماج مع الغير في الداخل أو الخارج؛ إلا بموافقة الجهة التي أصدرته، وذلك وفقاً للضوابط والإجراءات التي تحدد
- Article 22
Radio 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.
تعد القنوات الإذاعية والتلفزيونية التابعة لهيئة الإذاعة والتلفزيون -وقت نفاذ هذا النظام- مرخصة حكماً؛ على أن تخضع تلك القنوات لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.