Article 14 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
المادة 14 من نظام الإعلام المرئي والمسموع
Licensees 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- مع مراعاة ما قضى به نظام المنافسة، يحظر على المرخص لهم القيام بما يؤثر سلباً على سوق البث، وإعادة البث، أو الإنتاج الإعلامي المرئي أو المسموع، أو أي أمر يتصل بذلك، وتحدد اللائحة الضوابط التي تنظم ذلك.
2- يحظر تشفير المحتوى الإعلامي المتعلق بالمناسبات ذات الطابع الوطني التي تحددها الهيئة، وذلك وفقاً للقواعد والإجراءات التي ترد في اللائحة.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article contains two independent provisions:
Paragraph 1: protecting the market
- Licensees are prohibited from doing anything that negatively affects the market for broadcasting, rebroadcasting, or audiovisual media production, or any matter connected with them.
- This is subject to what the Competition Law provides, meaning this provision does not displace the application of the Competition Law.
- The regulations set the controls that govern this. The text does not list the prohibited acts.
Paragraph 2: prohibiting encryption of national occasions
- Encrypting media content relating to occasions of a national character is prohibited.
- The Authority specifies these occasions.
- This is in accordance with the rules and procedures in the regulations.
The aim of the second paragraph is to ensure that content relating to national occasions reaches the public without encryption. But the article does not name these occasions; it leaves specifying them to the Authority, so it should not be assumed that a particular occasion is covered without a decision from it.
The first paragraph is linked to the Law's aim in Article 2 of providing a suitable investment environment for audiovisual media. Media bodies that conclude exclusive agreements or make encryption decisions may need to consult a lawyer who specializes in media regulation and administrative matters to make sure they comply with this article.
Practical example
A licensed sports channel holds the broadcast rights to an occasion that the Authority has specified as being of a national character. The channel may not encrypt this content, and must comply with the rules and procedures in the regulations.
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 14 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
Can content of national occasions be encrypted?
No. The article prohibits encrypting media content relating to occasions of a national character that the Authority specifies, under the regulations' rules.
Who specifies the national occasions whose encryption is prohibited?
The General Authority for Audiovisual Media.
Does this Law replace the Competition Law?
No. The first paragraph provides that what the Competition Law provides is to be taken into account.
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1- يشترط قبل منح ترخيص البث الذي تستخدم فيه الترددات -وفقاً لأحكام النظام ولائحته- استيفاء المتطلبات المتعلقة بتخصيص الترددات وترخيصها من هيئة الاتصالات وتقنية
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في حال إلغاء الترخيص الخاص بمجال البث أو إعادة البث، أو تعليقه، أو عدم تجديده؛ فتتخذ الهيئة ما يلزم لضمان عدم الإضرار بمصالح العاملين وحفظ حقوقهم وفقاً للقواعد
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.