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TV Concerns: Government Considering Delaying Transition To Digital B

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  • TV Concerns: Government Considering Delaying Transition To Digital B

    TV CONCERNS: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING DELAYING TRANSITION TO DIGITAL BROADCASTING

    NEWS | 02.04.15 | 15:55

    Photo: OSCE/Gayane Ter-Stepanyan

    GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
    ArmeniaNow reporter

    The conversion of the Armenian analogue broadcasting system into
    digital, which has originally been scheduled to start from July 1,
    2015, the government is likely to postpone it.

    National Assembly member Edmon Marukyan suggested the government
    delaying the deadline of converting the analogue TV broadcasting
    system into digital till 2017; he believes that this conversion
    might result in a close-down of around a dozen TV channels, which
    will cause unemployment of several hundred people. The changes in the
    law about "TV and Radio" that Marukyan suggests will extend analogue
    functioning licenses for another two years and meanwhile will enable
    to find better solutions.

    At the Thursday government meeting Armenian Minister of Transport and
    Communication Gagik Beglaryan said that the suggestion is acceptable,
    only the clear deadlines must be discussed.

    "By digitizing certain amount of frequency domains will be liberated,
    and the state budget will have significant financial inflow by
    providing this domain, expenses for providing analog networks for
    the mentioned period will almost be doubled, considering also the
    financial means necessary for maintenance of analog networks," the
    minister said, adding that in the future the Armenian Ministry of
    Transport and Communication will present the bill of changes to the
    law about "TV and Radio" to the government's discussion.

    Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE) Chairman Ashot
    Melikyan said that digital broadcasting is installed in 80 percent
    of Armenia, but according to him, there are still reasons justifying
    the delay of the conversion project.

    "We must solve social problems, specifically providing decoding
    equipment to poor families. Of course, the fault of the state is that
    during 2010-2014 nothing was being done, processes ran very slow, and
    now, when the deadline is close there are numerous unsolved questions,"
    Melikyan said, adding that conversion to the new system is important
    not only in terms of quality, but also this is one of our country's
    international responsibilities and if Armenia does not convert to
    digital system it will hinder the region's countries.

    http://armenianow.com/news/62024/armenia_broadcasting_digital_television

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