Article 8 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
المادة 8 من نظام الإعلام المرئي والمسموع
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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. وتحدد اللائحة أنواع التراخيص، والمعايير، والشروط، والإجراءات الخاصة بكل نوع منها.
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 8 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body competent for licenses: the General Authority for Audiovisual Media. It is competent to grant the licenses needed for audiovisual media activities, and also to:
- Amend them.
- Suspend them.
- Cancel them.
- Renew them.
The restriction: this is subject to what is in Article 7. Article 7 provides that licenses for media broadcasting 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 and controls for this.
The full picture:
- Licenses for media broadcasting: Council of Ministers approval on the Authority's recommendation (Article 7).
- The other licenses needed for audiovisual media activities: within the competence of the Authority (Article 8).
What it leaves to the regulations: the types of licenses and the criteria, conditions and procedures for each type. The Law itself does not list the types of licenses.
The practical effect is that a person who wants to carry out a media activity, which requires a prior license under Article 3, goes to the Authority and learns from the regulations the type of license suited to their activity. A person whose license has been suspended or canceled can consult a lawyer who specializes in media regulation and administrative matters.
Practical example
An establishment in Khobar wants to work in visual content distribution. It goes to the Authority to learn which type of license suits its activity under the types, criteria and conditions the regulations set, and the Authority is the body competent to grant it.
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 8 of the Saudi Audiovisual Media Law
Who grants audiovisual media licenses?
The General Authority for Audiovisual Media, subject to Article 7, which makes media broadcasting licenses subject to the approval of the Council of Ministers on the Authority's recommendation.
Where do I find the types of audiovisual media licenses?
The article refers the types of licenses and their criteria, conditions and procedures to the regulations.
Can the Authority suspend a license?
Yes. The article gives it competence to suspend and cancel licenses, subject to Article 7.
Articles this article refers to
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 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.
- 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.