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OPEN TO CONTEST: REGULATOR KICKS OFF NEW TV LICENSING COMPETITION IN ARMENIA
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
21.07.10 | 16:09
News
"... it is the society that watches TV, and it should correspond not
to NTRC's tastes, but to the wishes and requirements of the community,"
says Mesrop Harutyunyan.
Amid concerns from outside and internal observers about a growing
government grip on local media, the National Television and Radio
Commission (NTRC) has opened licensing contests for local TV companies
seeking to broadcast through a digital network in the territory of
Armenia. The tender that formally kicked off on July 20 consists of
18 contests.
NTRC Chairman Grigor Amalyan said the contests would ensure countrywide
broadcasts. Both companies currently broadcasting for capital Yerevan
only, or for separate provinces, are among participants in the tender.
Under the law, five private television companies of general direction
broadcasting countrywide (except two Public Television channels) are
planned to be licensed, several will have specialized orientation. One
private TV company to receive a license will focus on international
and local news and analytical programs, and four companies to be
licensed will be retransmitting programs of other TVs. There will be
one TV program for Yerevan and each of the 10 provinces.
By mid-October the competing companies are expected to submit their
proposals, and in mid-December the regulator is expected to make
decisions.
At its latest session earlier this year the National Assembly adopted
a government-proposed package of amendments to the Law on Television
and Radio, which aims at digitalizing broadcasts in Armenia. The
completion of this transition is expected by July 2013
Expert of the Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Speech Mesrop
Harutyunyan believes that by the amended law the government only
seeks to prolong its full control over television and radio broadcasts.
"We said many times that the law indeed requires lots of changes,
but not prohibitive, but encouraging plurality of opinion. I think
the changes made in the law do not allow for an open and transparent
conduct of [licensing] competitions," he said.
Harutyunyan believes the competitive bids should pass through public
hearings, which is not stipulated by the amended law.
"The applications in fact remain close and confidential. Public opinion
remains unheard. Meanwhile, it is the society that watches television,
and it should correspond not to NTRC's tastes, but to the wishes and
requirements of the community," the expert told ArmeniaNow.
Another concern voiced by experts is that by law the commission is
not obligated to provide grounds for rejecting bids.
In June 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of
an embattled Armenian TV company in its dispute with the Republic
of Armenia. In particular, it said the state authorities committed
a violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European
Convention on Human Rights by refusing to grant A1 Plus's requests
for broadcasting licenses on several occasions.
A1 Plus posing as an independent TV channel was taken off the air in
April 2002 after losing its broadcasting frequency in a tender that
was administered by NTRC. The regulatory body did not provide clear
reasons for its decision then and has blocked all of the company's
subsequent attempts to win another frequency. The 2008 European Court
ruling said "the procedure which did not require a licensing body to
justify its decisions did not provide adequate protection against
arbitrary interference by a public authority with the fundamental
right to freedom of expression."
A1 Plus will be amongst companies participating in the current
contests. Its chairman Mesrop Movsesyan believes that their proposed
project is competitive.
The company has maintained for years that its repeated failures to
win a broadcasting license in Armenia were the results of government
obstructions.
During her visit to Armenia earlier this month U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton said during a meeting with civil society
representatives that she had communicated her concerns about issues
pertaining to freedom of speech during her meeting with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan.
"I know many of you are concerned about the government's recent changes
to the law on TV and radio and these are concerns that the United
States, the OSCE and the European Union share," Clinton said on July 5,
while meeting a group of civil society activists and journalists in
Yerevan. She added that President Sargsyan had told her the Armenian
government was ready to once again consider the law this coming fall.
Despite concerns voiced by local experts and a number of international
organizations, President Sargsyan in June signed into law the
parliament-adopted amendments regulating the introduction of digital
television and radio in Armenia and, in particular, curtailing the
number of television and radio companies in the country.
Opponents at home and OSCE media experts had warned the new law could
put serious curbs on pluralism in Armenia.
But NTRC Chairman Amalyan says that the procedures related to the
contests would definitely not be changed.
"No new requirements that would essentially impact competitive factors
will be set during these announced contests," said Amalyan.
Expert Harutyunyan doubts the Armenian authorities will make any real
change following the statement by the U.S. secretary of state.
"I believe that these 18 frequencies have already been virtually
distributed. But we hope that one day this law will be changed,"
said Harutyunyan.
From: A. Papazian
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
21.07.10 | 16:09
News
"... it is the society that watches TV, and it should correspond not
to NTRC's tastes, but to the wishes and requirements of the community,"
says Mesrop Harutyunyan.
Amid concerns from outside and internal observers about a growing
government grip on local media, the National Television and Radio
Commission (NTRC) has opened licensing contests for local TV companies
seeking to broadcast through a digital network in the territory of
Armenia. The tender that formally kicked off on July 20 consists of
18 contests.
NTRC Chairman Grigor Amalyan said the contests would ensure countrywide
broadcasts. Both companies currently broadcasting for capital Yerevan
only, or for separate provinces, are among participants in the tender.
Under the law, five private television companies of general direction
broadcasting countrywide (except two Public Television channels) are
planned to be licensed, several will have specialized orientation. One
private TV company to receive a license will focus on international
and local news and analytical programs, and four companies to be
licensed will be retransmitting programs of other TVs. There will be
one TV program for Yerevan and each of the 10 provinces.
By mid-October the competing companies are expected to submit their
proposals, and in mid-December the regulator is expected to make
decisions.
At its latest session earlier this year the National Assembly adopted
a government-proposed package of amendments to the Law on Television
and Radio, which aims at digitalizing broadcasts in Armenia. The
completion of this transition is expected by July 2013
Expert of the Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Speech Mesrop
Harutyunyan believes that by the amended law the government only
seeks to prolong its full control over television and radio broadcasts.
"We said many times that the law indeed requires lots of changes,
but not prohibitive, but encouraging plurality of opinion. I think
the changes made in the law do not allow for an open and transparent
conduct of [licensing] competitions," he said.
Harutyunyan believes the competitive bids should pass through public
hearings, which is not stipulated by the amended law.
"The applications in fact remain close and confidential. Public opinion
remains unheard. Meanwhile, it is the society that watches television,
and it should correspond not to NTRC's tastes, but to the wishes and
requirements of the community," the expert told ArmeniaNow.
Another concern voiced by experts is that by law the commission is
not obligated to provide grounds for rejecting bids.
In June 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of
an embattled Armenian TV company in its dispute with the Republic
of Armenia. In particular, it said the state authorities committed
a violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European
Convention on Human Rights by refusing to grant A1 Plus's requests
for broadcasting licenses on several occasions.
A1 Plus posing as an independent TV channel was taken off the air in
April 2002 after losing its broadcasting frequency in a tender that
was administered by NTRC. The regulatory body did not provide clear
reasons for its decision then and has blocked all of the company's
subsequent attempts to win another frequency. The 2008 European Court
ruling said "the procedure which did not require a licensing body to
justify its decisions did not provide adequate protection against
arbitrary interference by a public authority with the fundamental
right to freedom of expression."
A1 Plus will be amongst companies participating in the current
contests. Its chairman Mesrop Movsesyan believes that their proposed
project is competitive.
The company has maintained for years that its repeated failures to
win a broadcasting license in Armenia were the results of government
obstructions.
During her visit to Armenia earlier this month U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton said during a meeting with civil society
representatives that she had communicated her concerns about issues
pertaining to freedom of speech during her meeting with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan.
"I know many of you are concerned about the government's recent changes
to the law on TV and radio and these are concerns that the United
States, the OSCE and the European Union share," Clinton said on July 5,
while meeting a group of civil society activists and journalists in
Yerevan. She added that President Sargsyan had told her the Armenian
government was ready to once again consider the law this coming fall.
Despite concerns voiced by local experts and a number of international
organizations, President Sargsyan in June signed into law the
parliament-adopted amendments regulating the introduction of digital
television and radio in Armenia and, in particular, curtailing the
number of television and radio companies in the country.
Opponents at home and OSCE media experts had warned the new law could
put serious curbs on pluralism in Armenia.
But NTRC Chairman Amalyan says that the procedures related to the
contests would definitely not be changed.
"No new requirements that would essentially impact competitive factors
will be set during these announced contests," said Amalyan.
Expert Harutyunyan doubts the Armenian authorities will make any real
change following the statement by the U.S. secretary of state.
"I believe that these 18 frequencies have already been virtually
distributed. But we hope that one day this law will be changed,"
said Harutyunyan.
From: A. Papazian