Legal Amendments in Bulgaria to Address Loud Commercials

Bulgaria’s Parliament is to review legal amendments aimed at ensuring that commercials and radio and TV programs are broadcast at a similar volume. File photo

Commercial messages must be broadcast at a similar volume to the other radio and TV programs, according to Bulgarian socialist MP Zahari Georgiev.

Georgiev, as cited by Darik radio, specified Monday that the bill seeking to amend the Consumer Protection Act had been submitted to Parliament, with developments on the matter expected by the end of the week.

The MP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) noted that it was common practice for commercial messages on radio and TV to be broadcast twice louder than the other programs.

The left-wing MP explained that the European Parliament was also working on a similar Directive, adding that the time of entry into force of the decision applicable to the entire EU was still unclear.

The bill also amends the scheme for renewing contracts with mobile operators.

"When a fixed-term contract expires, it must be renewed as a contract of indefinite duration so that subscribers can terminate it with a one month's notice," according to Georgiev argued.

A third amendment obliges cable operators to keep their customers informed about any changes they make to the package of channels they offer through the signing of a contract addendum.