Tweet
GROUP OF MEDIA PROFESSIONALS IN ARMENIA KEEN ON LAUNCHING 'REAL' PUBLIC TV
Society | 11.10.13 | 15:37
Photo: Gohar Abrahamyan/ArmeniaNow.com
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A group of media professionals in Armenia have committed themselves
to materializing the idea of a "Real Public Television Company of
Armenia". They plan to set up an initiative council, convene a founding
meeting, decide on the most effective way of legal organization,
map out a plan of action and start implementing it.
The initiative to set up a satellite, people's television belongs to
Levon Barseghyan, the chairman of the Asparez Journalists' Club. Among
those who have joined it are A1+ TV company director Mesrop Movsesyan,
Yerevan Press Club President Boris Navasardyan, Committee to Protect
Freedom of Expression Chairman Ashot Melikyan, media expert Mesrop
Harutyunyan and others. They believe there is a real demand for a
television company like that in Armenia today.
Newscasts every15 or 30 minutes, interviews in different formats,
debates, analytical programs, live broadcasts from mass public
events, documentaries, other television production that would meet
the goals and objectives of this TV, social ads, limited commercial
advertising that will not interrupt programs - this is how members
of the initiative group picture the "real" public television's work.
"The idea is not new, and professionals who have been in television
business for more than 20 years have always seen the problem and
realized that we haven't got a public television. We've had a state
television, a TV company set up by the state, a TV company bearing
the name of 'public' but having profound interests in the advertising
market, a television that in a broader sense has not served the
public's interests," said Barseghyan during an open public discussion
on Thursday.
He added that the mission of the "Real Public Television" will be to
have a television company that will provide a comprehensive coverage of
problems and developments in Armenia and will do it with professional
honesty, a television company that will be public by its essence and
nature, will not seek profits and will be independent of any political
party or the government.
Satellite programs of the "real" public TV are expected to be
available for viewing throughout Armenia and people will also be able
to watch them in Europe, Russia, North America, as well as online,
and if there is a desire from other broadcasting companies in Armenia,
including cable broadcasters, they can become available also through
their channels.
The estimated cost of launching the company and ensuring its first
year of operations is $850,000 to $1.2 million.
According to Melikyan, several organizations have often harshly
criticized representatives of the broadcasting sphere and the
establishment of such a television company will be "a constructive
answer to the question about what a public television company should
be like."
The state-funded Public Television Company of Armenia has often been
criticized for its low-quality serials and programs. Critics also
say that the news on H1 not always reflect the whole picture.
Particular criticism has been voiced recently over the decision of the
Public Television Company to sign a contract with Russian citizen Maxim
Kisilev, who in the past has worked for leading television companies
in Russia, for the position of acting general producer till the end
of the year. The recently changed logo of the Public Television and,
in particular, the fact that it has "lost" its Armenian letter "H",
has also provided an occasion for discussions.
Many took it as a way of copying the Russian Public Television's logo.
ArmeniaNow asked the Public Television of Armenia to comment on the
plans for a "rival" public TV in Armenia as well as on the allegations
about the quality of its programming and the change of the logo,
but the public broadcaster did not provide any response by the time
of this publication.
Meanwhile, Navasardyan said that an initiative to set up a similar
"real" public television also existed in neighboring Azerbaijan,
where satellite broadcasting was supposed to be carried out from
Prague, but the project did not prove viable and was shut down in 2007.
"The whole program was aimed at donor assistance and when a decision
was made by international donor organizations that it wasn't
necessary, the initiative was dead," said Navasardyan, adding that
this is why they have decided not only to avail themselves from donor
organizations, but also carry out large-scale fundraising activities.
He said that in the matter of securing funding and developing
strategy they expect a broad involvement of citizens of Armenia,
Diaspora Armenians, organizations and foundations.
http://armenianow.com/society/49147/armenia_satellite_public_television_a1plus
Society | 11.10.13 | 15:37
Photo: Gohar Abrahamyan/ArmeniaNow.com
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A group of media professionals in Armenia have committed themselves
to materializing the idea of a "Real Public Television Company of
Armenia". They plan to set up an initiative council, convene a founding
meeting, decide on the most effective way of legal organization,
map out a plan of action and start implementing it.
The initiative to set up a satellite, people's television belongs to
Levon Barseghyan, the chairman of the Asparez Journalists' Club. Among
those who have joined it are A1+ TV company director Mesrop Movsesyan,
Yerevan Press Club President Boris Navasardyan, Committee to Protect
Freedom of Expression Chairman Ashot Melikyan, media expert Mesrop
Harutyunyan and others. They believe there is a real demand for a
television company like that in Armenia today.
Newscasts every15 or 30 minutes, interviews in different formats,
debates, analytical programs, live broadcasts from mass public
events, documentaries, other television production that would meet
the goals and objectives of this TV, social ads, limited commercial
advertising that will not interrupt programs - this is how members
of the initiative group picture the "real" public television's work.
"The idea is not new, and professionals who have been in television
business for more than 20 years have always seen the problem and
realized that we haven't got a public television. We've had a state
television, a TV company set up by the state, a TV company bearing
the name of 'public' but having profound interests in the advertising
market, a television that in a broader sense has not served the
public's interests," said Barseghyan during an open public discussion
on Thursday.
He added that the mission of the "Real Public Television" will be to
have a television company that will provide a comprehensive coverage of
problems and developments in Armenia and will do it with professional
honesty, a television company that will be public by its essence and
nature, will not seek profits and will be independent of any political
party or the government.
Satellite programs of the "real" public TV are expected to be
available for viewing throughout Armenia and people will also be able
to watch them in Europe, Russia, North America, as well as online,
and if there is a desire from other broadcasting companies in Armenia,
including cable broadcasters, they can become available also through
their channels.
The estimated cost of launching the company and ensuring its first
year of operations is $850,000 to $1.2 million.
According to Melikyan, several organizations have often harshly
criticized representatives of the broadcasting sphere and the
establishment of such a television company will be "a constructive
answer to the question about what a public television company should
be like."
The state-funded Public Television Company of Armenia has often been
criticized for its low-quality serials and programs. Critics also
say that the news on H1 not always reflect the whole picture.
Particular criticism has been voiced recently over the decision of the
Public Television Company to sign a contract with Russian citizen Maxim
Kisilev, who in the past has worked for leading television companies
in Russia, for the position of acting general producer till the end
of the year. The recently changed logo of the Public Television and,
in particular, the fact that it has "lost" its Armenian letter "H",
has also provided an occasion for discussions.
Many took it as a way of copying the Russian Public Television's logo.
ArmeniaNow asked the Public Television of Armenia to comment on the
plans for a "rival" public TV in Armenia as well as on the allegations
about the quality of its programming and the change of the logo,
but the public broadcaster did not provide any response by the time
of this publication.
Meanwhile, Navasardyan said that an initiative to set up a similar
"real" public television also existed in neighboring Azerbaijan,
where satellite broadcasting was supposed to be carried out from
Prague, but the project did not prove viable and was shut down in 2007.
"The whole program was aimed at donor assistance and when a decision
was made by international donor organizations that it wasn't
necessary, the initiative was dead," said Navasardyan, adding that
this is why they have decided not only to avail themselves from donor
organizations, but also carry out large-scale fundraising activities.
He said that in the matter of securing funding and developing
strategy they expect a broad involvement of citizens of Armenia,
Diaspora Armenians, organizations and foundations.
http://armenianow.com/society/49147/armenia_satellite_public_television_a1plus