In North Macedonia, the TV content rating system is controlled by Rulebook on protection of minors. Providers of audiovisual media services are required to categorize the overall programme broadcasted on television programme services, or offered in the catalogue of audiovisual media services on demand, with the exception of news and information programmes. The editor, based on their ethical awareness and editorial responsibility, should very carefully assess whether in a particular programme context it is necessary to broadcast content potentially harmful to minors. Programmes subject to categorisation shall be classified under the following five categories:
Ratings[]
First category - programmes designed for the entire audience:
Programmes that can be broadcasted throughout the day and night and can be viewed by the entire audience, including children of preschool age. The use of rude (vulgar) language should be reduced to the lowest possible level. Displaying the naked human body is permitted only in neutral natural appearance, beyond any erotic context. It is not recommended to display real weapons. It is recommended that descriptions and scenes and/or sights of violent acts are limited exclusively to unstressed threats without any expression of verbal and/or psychophysical cruelty in human relations. Displaying of drug addiction, alcoholism and similar deviant behaviour is prohibited. The scenes of fear should be designed in compliance with the age of the youngest viewers.
Second category - programmes that are not recommended for children under 8 years of age, for the viewing of which supervision of a parent or guardian is recommended:
They can be broadcasted over the whole day and night, with a recommendation to be viewed under the supervision of a parent or guardian. They can have a range of more serious topics: deviant behaviour, family violence, racism and the like, but programmes in no case may encourage, or include any affirmation of deviant behaviour or behaviour offensive to human dignity. Overemphasized use of rude (vulgar) language is not allowed. Neutral, natural appearance of the naked human body is allowed, but without any vulgar sexual context. Descriptions, scenes and/or sights of erotica must be extremely rare and very unstressed, discrete and without vulgar allusions. Showing moderate violence, but without details of cruelty, justified in the plot of the script, without emphasizing the presence of real weapons or dangerous techniques for interpersonal fights, is allowed.
Third category - programmes that are not recommended for children under 12 years of age, for the viewing of which supervision of a parent or guardian is necessary:
Programmes the scenario of which involves systematic and frequent descriptions, images and/or sights of psychophysical violence, which can cause distress to minors. Treatment of serious topics is acceptable, but should be adequate for the stipulated age of the audience. It is permissible to use obscene language, vulgarity and brutality, but must be kept at a reasonable level and be justified by the 7 necessary function in the dramatic or the information and documentary context of the programme. Descriptions, scenes and/or sights of violence and eroticism, and possible mutual relationship between these two factors in the development of the narrative, should not emphasize physical injuries and/or psychophysical consequences of the injuries, nor to focus on obscene physical details. No exaggerated importance should be given to weapons and techniques for interpersonal fights which are easy to imitate, with dangerous potential to have a suggestive influence on psychologically less stable and emotionally vulnerable segments of the audience. Displaying drug addiction is allowed, but without detailed elaboration of the phases of the act of characterization of characters, and complementarily in the whole of the various types of feature, educational, informative and/or documentary programme. Announcements of such programmes must not be composed of descriptions, scenes and/or sights that can disturb minors.
Fourth category - programmes that are not recommended for children under 16 years of age, for the viewing of which supervision of a parent or guardian is necessary:
Programmes the scenario of which involves systematic and frequent descriptions, images and/or sights of psychophysical violence, which can upset minors. There are no restrictions on the topics. Frequent use of rude speech is permitted, but the excessive use of extremely vulgar expressions is hardly acceptable. Displaying erotica and sexual intercourse is allowed, but without explicit, pornographic details. It is necessary to have a carefully conceived context of verbal and gestural expressions that have strong sexual allusion and may offend human dignity. Displaying drug addiction is allowed only without detailed elaboration of the phases of the act of (ab)use of drugs, in a balanced manner with indication of the consequences, and in the purpose of characterization of the characters, complementarily in the unit of the various types of feature, educational, informative and/or documentary programme. Descriptions, images and/or scenes of violence and consequences of violence are acceptable, but not images of sadism, or any other expression of inhumanity and molesting over people and animals. Announcements of such programmes must be composed of descriptions, images and/or sights that can upset minors.
Fifth category - programmes that are not suitable for audiences under 18 years of age:
Descriptions, scenes and/or sights of violence and consequences of violence, as well as displays of erotic relations are tolerated. The autonomous right and self-awareness of the person who is of age to decide which type and category of programme they want to follow is respected. Broadcasting pornography and sadism is prohibited and in no case should be associated with this category of programmes. In this category of programmes there are no restrictions on the topics, and the only limitations are related to the manner of their treatment.
Watershed[]
First and second categories can air at any time. Third category can air from 8:00pm. Fourth category can air from 10:00pm. Fifth category can air from 12:00am. Third, fourth, and fifth category must not air after 5:00am.
Logos[]
The color for the logos are green for the first category, yellow for the second category, orange for the third category, blue for the fourth category, and red for the surplus category.