Having launched the application call to reduce the number of private television channels in Greece, Alexis Tsipras’ government is now considering the creation of a national advertising agency.
Le siège du Parlement grec
It would have a monopoly on marketing advertising space and would be the sole intermediary between companies and the nation’s TV channels, the Minister of State Nikos Pappas explained on Friday, July 8th.
The government, which on July 1st launched a public consultation on the bill, believes the measure would make the market more transparent and facilitate the fight against tax evasion.
In a joint statement issued on July 8th, the country’s main advertising agencies and private channels expressed their concern and denounced an “unjustified and unprecedented interference in advertising and television.”
Private channels currently pay a 20% tax on advertising revenues – introduced during the Greek government-debt crisis. The bill, if passed, would increase the tax to 30%.
Sources: Reuters, Financial Times
