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Bulgarian TV channels featuring children in reality shows to face up to 60 000 leva fines

Thu, Jun 03 2010 10:47 CET

byNick Iliev

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Bulgarian TV channels featuring children in reality shows to face up to 60 000 leva fines

Television channels in Bulgaria that broadcast reality shows featuring children will be punished severely and will pay serious fines from now on, the Bulgarian Novinar reported on June 3 2010, citing draft amendments to the Television and Radio Act approved by the Parliamentary Culture Committee commission.

If television channels flout the rule, they will get an initial fine ranging from 15 000 to 30 000 leva. A repeat offence will cost the channel up to 60 000 leva, the report said.

The issue of having children in reality show formats, such as Big Brother, has proved very contentious with many observers protesting that allowing minors on such shows is contemptible.

The latest such show in Bulgaria – Big Brother Family – has been steeped in controversy even before its launch on March 22 2010 because of the inclusion of children.

At the launch of the new Big Brother, five children were included. According to the show's official website, the oldest boy was seven, along with a boy aged six, two girls aged four and the youngest one, also a girl, is only two-and-a-half years old.

Echoing objections from child protection groups, GERB MPs Daniela Mitkova, Dian Chervenkondev and Yoanna Kirova, want the law changed so that children under 18 are barred from participation, as part of an amendment to the Radio and Television Act.

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Big Brother Family: Bulgarian MPs want to ban children from reality TV shows

With growing public concern and outcry from child protection groups, a group of Bulgaria's ruling party GERB MPs demand that the law is amended so that children will be barred from participating in reality television shows.

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