Radio stations and TV channels may have to change their frequencies for defence reasons
This is set out in Decision No. 1838 of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting.
During martial law, certain television and radio channels may be reallocated for the purposes of national security, defence or law and order. To ensure that a broadcaster does not cease operations, the National Council may grant it permission to broadcast temporarily using another available frequency.
Once the technical re-tuning is complete, the broadcaster may be allocated a new channel to replace the one that was made available for defence purposes. Once the transition is complete, the National Council will have the right to revoke the temporary licence.
In effect, the regulator has closed a legal loophole: previously, the regulations did not specifically stipulate what should be done with the temporary licence once the broadcaster had fully transitioned to the new channel.
Does revoking the licence mean the closure of the media outlet?
The revocation of a temporary licence does not mean the automatic closure of a TV channel or radio station. It refers to the cessation of use of the reserve frequency once the broadcaster has been reassigned a new channel and has completed the reconfiguration of its equipment.
Nor is this new ground related to programme content, editorial policy or criticism of the authorities. The decision concerns the allocation of limited radio frequency resources during martial law.
The licence will not be revoked immediately after the frequency is withdrawn for defence purposes, but only once the frequency has been replaced and the broadcast channels have been reconfigured.
Who is affected by the new rules
The changes apply to licence holders whose broadcast channels have been reallocated for the needs of defence, security and law enforcement agencies. Such media organisations may be granted a temporary licence within the territory previously covered by the reallocated channel.
The special regime has also been extended to the audiovisual media of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. This creates the legal framework for the temporary broadcasting of military media, particularly in areas where it is important to ensure access to Ukrainian news and counter Russian propaganda.
The updated rules do not mean that all Ukrainian TV channels or radio stations will change their frequencies in the near future. The decision will apply only to media outlets whose channels have been reallocated for defence purposes or which operate under special temporary licences.
What to do if a radio station has gone off air
If your usual radio station has stopped broadcasting on its usual frequency, you should first check for any announcements from the broadcaster itself or the National Council. The broadcaster should inform listeners of the switch to a different frequency.
On a car radio or digital radio receiver, you can run an automatic station search. If the receiver is tuned manually, you will need to enter the new FM frequency provided by the broadcaster.
You shouldn’t immediately assume that the radio station has been shut down. The reason for the signal disappearing could be a change of frequency, a transmitter re-tuning, equipment failure or a temporary suspension of broadcasting due to hostilities.
How to retune your DTT TV
If the picture disappears after changing a TV channel, open the settings on your T2 receiver or TV with a built-in tuner and run an automatic search for digital channels.
Before performing a new search, it is worth checking the antenna connection and signal strength. If the channels do not reappear, you should check whether any technical work is being carried out on the local transmitter.
Subscribers to cable, satellite and internet TV do not usually need to search for a new frequency themselves. The provider will make the necessary changes, although in some cases you may need to restart your set-top box or refresh the channel list.
Broadcasters in areas of active hostilities will be able to suspend operations
The National Council has also clarified the rules for regional and local media operating in areas of active hostilities. Such broadcasters will be able to apply to the regulator to postpone the start of operations or to temporarily suspend broadcasting.
To do so, the company must justify its reasons and provide documents confirming that it is impossible to commence or continue operations safely.
This option has also been extended to media organisations that do not use the radio frequency spectrum, provided their main stations are located in areas of active hostilities. This will allow companies to legally suspend operations due to danger, damage to equipment or the inability to ensure the safety of their staff.
For readers, the main practical implication of the new rules is that a particular radio station or TV channel may switch to a different frequency without ceasing to exist. In such cases, it is sufficient to retune the receiver and check the broadcaster’s official announcement.
Follow us on Telegram.
