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Brief explanation on Allocation of Free Air Time & Newspaper Column for the Political Parties for the 2010 Ethiopian General Election |
The Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority (here in after may refer EBA) is established by the broadcasting proclamation No. 178/99 (As repealed by proclamation No. 533/99). The overall objective of the Authority is to ensure the expansion of a high standard, prompt and realistic broadcasting service which can contribute to the political social and economic development of the country.
Pursuant to Broadcasting Proclamation No. 533/2007 article 43/1 states that “Any broadcasting service licensee shall allocate
free air time for political organization and candidates registered in accordance with the relevant law. . . ”. Correspondingly,
The Amended Election Law of Ethiopia, Proclamation No 532/2007 article 59(2) states “candidates shall be entitled to get access
to free airtime on the state owned media.” In addition in the same proclamation article 59(3) the Ministry of Information
(Now Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority) together with Electoral Board is responsible to prepare directive that determines the mode
of free airtime utilization.
On the basis of these legal facts to create conducive environment for the upcoming general election, EBA has done the following major tasks.
• Prepared directive of allocation of free airtime and newspaper columns for political parties.
• Conducted a participatory discussion on the draft document of the directive with the political parties and concerned bodies before its approval and set into practice.
From the international experience there are two important principles in allocation of free access of air time for contesting parties;
i.e. Equality and Equity principles. Different countries may use those principles based on their political system. While Ethiopia follows
Equity principle to allocate free air time and newspaper column.
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| Part one |
According to the directive, to implement such an Equity principle three major criteria stated and are used to allocate the airtime/newspaper
column for the contesting political parties..
The criteria’s are the following;
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1. Based on the evidence from The Ethiopia Electoral Board, political parties registered for the upcoming
general election (25%)
2. During 2005 and 2008 general and local election respectively, number of seats of the political parties
in the house peoples representative (HPR) and state councils (55%).
3. Based on the evidence from The Ethiopia Electoral Board, number of candidates of each contesting political
party (20%)
In line with these requirements, the free air time and newspaper columns were allocated to political parties
through lots drawing in the presence of the representatives of the various contesting political parties
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| For the 2010 general election, the total duration of free air time and the number of newspaper columns allocated are;
• Television 76 hours
• Radio 495 hours
• Newspapers 849 columns
On that basis, in the first round 80% of the total air time and newspaper columns allotments have already been allotted to contesting political
parties through lots in the presence of their representatives. |
The first round allotment of free air time and newspaper owned by federal and national government was depend on the above two requirements
( number of seat in the HRP including regional council and of political parties registration for election.
The duration of airtime and the number of newspaper columns allocated in the first round i.e. the 80% is:
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- Radio 321:15 Hours
- Television 51:15 Hours
- Newspaper 513 Columns
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The Public and Commercial in Use. |
1. Public Broadcasting Services. |
| S.No | Broadcaster | Languages in Use | Number of Languages |
| 1. | Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency Stations | | |
| ETV-1 | Amharic Afar, Somali | 3 |
| ETV-2 | Tigrigna,Amharic | 2 |
| National Radio | Amharic Afar, Somali, Oromigna, Tigrigna | 5 |
| 97.1 FM Radio | Amharic | 1 |
| 2. | Oromiya Mass Media agency | | |
| Oromiya TV | Oromifa, Amharic | 1 |
| Oromiya Radio | Oromifa | 1 |
| 3. | Dire Dawa Mass Media Agency | Amharic,Oromifa, Somaligna | |
| Dire FM | Amharic,Oromifa, Somaligna | 3 |
| Dire TV | Amharic,Oromifa, Somaligna | 3 |
| 4. | Amhara Mass Media Agency | | |
| Amhara Radio | Amharic | 1 |
| Amhara TV | Amharic | 1 |
| 5. | Debub Mass Media Agency
Debub FM | Amharic | 1 |
| 6. | Harar Mass Media agency
Harar FM | Amharic, Oromifa, Harari | 3 |
| 7. | Addis Ababa Mass Media agency
FM 96.3 | Amharic | 1 |
| 8. | Tigray Mass Media Agency
FM Mekele | Tigrigna | 1 |
2 Commercial Broadcasting Service |
| S.No | Broadcaster | Languages in Use | Number of Languages |
| 1. | Radio FANA Share Company | | |
| FANA National Radio | Amharic Somali, Afar, Oromigna | 4 |
| FANA FM 98.1 | Amharic | 1 |
| 2. | Dimtsi Weyane PLC.(Voice of REvolutionary Tigray, VORT) | Tigrigna Afar | 2 |
| 3. | Adey & Tnsae Kinetbebat PLc Sheger 102.1 | Amharic | 1 |
| 4. | Zami Public Connection Plc Zami 90.7 | Amharic | 1 |
3. Newspapers/ Periodicals |
| S.No | Newspapers/ Periodicals | Owned By | Languages in Use |
| 1. | Addis Zemen(New Era) | Ethiopia Press Egency | Amharic |
| 2. | Berissa | Ethiopia Press Egency | Oromigna |
| 3. | Harari | Harar Mass Media Agency | Harari & Oromigna |
| 4. | Mekalih Tigray | Tigray Communication Office | Tigrigna |
| 5. | Addis Lesan | Addis ababa Communication Affairs Office | Amharic |
| 6. | Kelecha Oromia | Oromia Information and Communication Bureau | Oromigna |
| 7. | Mleikte Dire | Diredawa Information and Communication Bureau | Amharic |
| 8. | Debub Negat | Debub Information and Communication Bureau | Amharic |
| 9. | Bekur | Amara Mass Media Agency | Amharic |
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Summary of the 1st Round of the total duration of airtime
and number of column in use as for the ruling party (EPRDF), opposition and partners parties. |
| Radio | Radio | Radio | Radio |
Radio | Televisi | Television | Newspaper |
| S.No. | Name of Political Party | Hours | Percent | Hours | Percent | Columns | Percent |
| 1 | EPRDF – Ruling Party | 136 | 42.3% | 22:15 | 43.4% | 215 | 42% |
| 2 | Opposition Parties | 126:15 | 39.3% | 18:45 | 36.6% | 198 | 38% |
| 3 | Partner Parties | 59 | 18.4% | 10:15 | 20% | 100 | 20% |
| | Total | 321:15 | 100% | 51:15 | 100% | 513 | 100% |
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Part Two |
The second round allotment of free airtime and news paper column is done on the basis of the third requirement as stated
in the directive. i.e. number of candidates that the contesting parties have registered and confirmed by Electoral board which cover 20% of the
total amount of allocation.
1. Television 30:07 hours
2. Radio 163:15 hours
3. Newspapers 255 columns
Among the contesting parties the following major political parties have registered more than 250 candidates and confirmed by the Electoral Board:-
• EPRDF…..1850 nominees
• MEDREK..1282 nominees
• AEUP…….1010 nominees
• EDP…510 nominees
• CUD… 270 nominees
Based on the third requirement that we mentioned above, EBA prepared free time and column allotment and discussed on it with political parties. Then after discussion, free air time and column are commenced through lot in the presence of their representatives.
The Second round allotment of the ruling ,oppositions and partner parties
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| S.No. | | Radio | Television | Newspaper |
| Name of Political Party | Hours | Percent | Hours | Percent | Columns | Percent |
| 1 | EPRDF – Ruling Party | 47:45 | 29% | 7:45 | 25.7% | 75 | 29% |
| 2 | Opposition Parties | 106:15 | 65% | 20:52 | 69.3% | 168 | 66% |
| 3 | Partner Parties | 9:15 | 6% | 1:30 | 5% | 12 | 5% |
| | Total | 163:15 | 100% | 30:07 | 100% | 255 | 100% |
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| Summary of free airtime and column allotment for ruling ,oppositions and political parties |
| S.No. | Political Party | First and Second Round of aggregate free time and column allotment |
| Radio..Hr | Television ...Hr | Newspaper column |
| 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round |
| 1 | EPRDF – Ruling Party | 47:45 | 29% | 7:45 | 25.7% | 75 | 29% | 25.7% | 75 | 29% |
| 2 | Opposition Parties | 106:15 | 65% | 20:52 | 69.3% | 168 | 66% | 25.7% | 75 | 29% |
| 3 | Partner Parties | 9:15 | 6% | 1:30 | 5% | 12 | 5% | 25.7% | 75 | 29% |
| | Total | 163:15 | 100% | 30:07 | 100% | 255 | 100% | 25.7% | 75 | 29% |
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This is not a matter of free air time and column from the side of the broadcaster rather than the contesting political parties, air time and
newspapers’ space allocated for the election campaign is estimated to cost over 38,095,406.75.
As far as the implementation of this allocation is
concerned, the EBA has made discussion with broadcasters and public print media sectors regarding the establishment of election desk, preparation of
technical criteria and standards for the programs prepared by political parties thereby allowing them to have better knowledge of programming to introduce
their programs and policies.
For the very reason, most broadcast & print media have formed election desk and prepared technical criteria & standard of the programs. Moreover,
the authority has a formed grievance handling committee that is responsible to look on every complaint that the contesting political parties may face
regarding the use of media and doing monitoring tasks on party election broadcast and other election related issues. |
