Jordan policy amendments aim to stimulate investment in media sector

Jordan policy amendments aim to stimulate investment in media sector
A Jordanian man reads a local newspaper in front of a kiosk in Amman on April 4, 2021. (File/AFP)
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Updated 12 August 2023
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Jordan policy amendments aim to stimulate investment in media sector

Jordan policy amendments aim to stimulate investment in media sector
  • Amendments to reduce broadcasting and licensing fees
  • Move follows the govt’s approval of multiple subsidies to newspapers

AMMAN: Jordan’s government is planning to amend the system of broadcasting licenses and TV and radio re-broadcasts in a bid to stimulate investment in the country’s media sector.

The announcement was made by Minister of Government Communications Faisal Shboul during a meeting on Saturday with editors-in-chief of daily newspapers and directors of official media institutions, Jordan News Agency reported.

The amendments aim to reduce broadcasting and re-broadcasting fees, licensing fees for satellite news gathering equipment, and fees collected by the Media Commission of Jordan. 

This move follows the government’s approval of multiple subsidies to newspapers. The state raised the price of government announcements and tender advertisements in daily print newspapers to 1 Jordanian dinar ($1.41) per word instead of 55 piasters, in a bid to support the achievement of sustainable revenues.

Sixty-three institutions — including 22 TV stations, 39 radio stations and two re-transmission stations — operate in Jordan’s audiovisual media sector.