Article 22 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
المادة 22 من نظام الإعلام المرئي والمسموع
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد القنوات الإذاعية والتلفزيونية التابعة لهيئة الإذاعة والتلفزيون -وقت نفاذ هذا النظام- مرخصة حكماً؛ على أن تخضع تلك القنوات لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
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 22 explained in plain English
This is a transitional article, dealing with the position of existing channels when the Law was issued.
Whom does it cover? The radio and television channels belonging to the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation and existing at the time this Law takes effect.
The rule: these channels are deemed licensed by operation of law. "By operation of law" means they are treated as channels licensed by the text of the Law, with no need to apply for a license in the usual way.
The restriction: this is provided that those channels are subject to the Law and regulations. A license by operation of law does not mean exemption from obligations. These channels are bound, for example, by the media content controls in Article 5 and by the licensee's duties in Article 6, depending on the type of their license.
Why this rule? Because Article 3 requires obtaining a license before carrying out any audiovisual media activity. If that rule were applied literally to existing channels, they would have to stop until they obtained a license. This article therefore ensures their continuity without interruption, while subjecting them to the Law.
Note that the article is limited to the channels belonging to the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation at the time the Law takes effect, and the text does not address other channels.
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 22 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
Do the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation's channels need a new license?
The channels belonging to it at the time the Law takes effect are deemed licensed by operation of law under the article.
Are these channels subject to the Law?
Yes. The article provides that they are subject to the Law and regulations despite their license by operation of law.
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 10
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.
يضع المجلس قواعد تحديد المقابل المالي لإصدار التراخيص، وما تقدمه الهيئة من خدمات بموجب النظام واللائحة، وآلية تحصيله.
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.