Region
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Income group
Upper middle income
Most populous city
Sofia

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Disclaimer: Note that the following information is not part of the score that the country receives on the Investing Across Sectors indicators. This information is provided as complementary to the data on the foreign ownership restrictions, and is based on the survey respondents’ comments and assessments. The World Bank Group does not guarantee accuracy of this information.

Sector group:
Media
Sector:
Television broadcasting: A foreign company seeking to program and broadcast a complete television channel on a countrywide scale. Note: Excluded from the definition are production of mere television program elements and radio broadcasting.
Market structure:
 
Survey respondents' answer to the following question, "Define the market structure in your economy for this sector."
Oligopoly, i.e. a few large firms
Regulatory license:
 
Survey respondents' answer to the following question, "If a foreign company wanted to obtain a sector-specific regulatory license (or a concession contract) to open and operate a new business in that sector, how likely would the government be to issue such a license, provided that the foreign company meets all legal and regulatory requirements?"
Likely
Name of regulatory authority
The Bulgarian Council of Electronic Media and the Commission for Regulation of the Communications
Additional comments:
Legislation: (1) The Electronic Communications Act, (2) The Radio and Television Act ("RTA") and other regulations

Bulgarian law used to regulate broadcasting through analogue terrestrial network only. Recent amendments to the RTA envisage broadcasting through digital terrestrial network and regulation of the respective procedure for licensing.

Under Bulgarian law, foreign companies may carry out television operator's activity through a subsidiary company registered under Bulgarian law. Operators who broadcast their programs through terrestrial analogue network need a license, while operators who broadcast through other technical means (cable, satellite) are subject to registration. National programming license and a terrestrial analogue broadcasting permit must be obtained respectively from the Bulgarian Council of Electronic Media ("CEM") and the Bulgarian Communication Regulation Commission ("CRC").

Under the RTA, a national programming license for radio and television activity shall not be issued if the applicant or its related parties hold a regional or local license of the same type, unless they renounce such regional/ local license or in case of a digital broadcasting license. There are other restrictions/ requirements that have to be observed such as restrictions on advertisement, sponsorship, antimonopoly and competition; financial stability requirement, etc. Capital structure and ownership must be disclosed in order to obtain a license.

Additional requirements are envisaged for applicants for a license for digital broadcasting. Only an enterprise, which has obtained prior approval from the CRC for use of radio frequency spectrum may be licensed. The licensee can not be TV or radio operator at the same time except for related parties with the enterprise. There are also requirements for originality of the programs, technical capability, previous experience, etc.

There are foreign firms currently operating in this sector
Min: 20 weeks
Max: 40 weeks

Granting of a license is subject to available radio frequency resources (scarce resources). The Council for Electronic Media demands from the Commission for Regulation of the Communications information about the available technical resources. The procedure for obtaining of a license is competitive.