Audiovisual Media from the Republic of Moldova between the Need for Investments and Maintaining Editorial Independence. Risks and Solutions

Abstract

The Republic of Moldova is undergoing an extensive transformation of its media legislation and
regulations. This transition generates new challenges in the field of media and content production,
and requires new visions, approaches and solutions for the development of media and the expansion
of audiovisual and film production capacities.
Many problems, as well as opportunities and pitfalls, exist in this process, and many countries in
Southeast Europe have already faced them. The media and film industry is and must be profitable.
An example is Germany, where the creative industry is third after the automotive and metallurgical
industries, with receipts in GDP of 68 billion Euros per year.
The media must be reinvented due to technological developments. For film, the cash-rebate system is
vital. Serbia offers a 20% cash rebate for local spending. The same is true in Macedonia and Croatia.
Example - 5 out of 7 seasons of Game of Thrones were filmed in Dubrovnik (Croatia), and soon the
first Bollywood blockbuster will be filmed in Macedonia. Both films receive a 20% cash rebate.
It is necessary to create a functional and transparent data platform, in order to see what the audience
is doing, not only in TV, but also in other media - radio, online, print, etc. If we can measure correctly,
we will also be able to show investors the directions of benefit. Moldova has a significant shortage of
objective, accurate statistical data, including information on which newspapers and magazines are
published and how many are published.