HOLDING TENDERS FOR TV AND RADIO BROADCASTING LICENSES FORBIDDEN BY LAW FOR TWO YEARS
Noyan Tapan
Se p 11, 2008
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. On September 10 the National
Assembly passed in third reading and completely the government-proposed
amendment to the Law on Television and Rdaio. By the amendment, tenders
for licensing of television and radio broadcasting shall not be held
until July 20, 2010. To recap, the government explains this legislative
amendment by the necessity of a shift to the digital broadcast system,
during which holding new licensing tenders is considered inexpedient.
The government considered adoption of the bill as urgent so it was
discussed and voted on in second and third readings during a day. The
NA convened a special session on the initiative of one third of the
NA deputies. The bill was passed with 71 votes for, 5 against and 2
abstentions. As was announced in advance, "Heritage" faction voted
against the bill.
The chairman of "Heritage" faction Armen Martirosian said in his
speech that the bill is a step against the idea of free competition
and liberal economy because a privilege is given to the operating
television companies and an obstacle is created for those TV companies
that intend to get an opportunity to broadcast.
In the words of A. Martirosian, the issue also has a political
componenet which is primary. He said that the main purpose of the bill
is deprive the opposition television companies of the opportunity
to be on the air. He reminded that recently the European Court of
Human Rights made a decision to provide A1+ television company with
the opportunity to take part in a fair tender, but the indicated
law makes the fulfilment of this decision impossible. According to
A. Martirosian, the PACE resolution 1620 also stresses the necessity
of creating favorable conditions for pluralistic electronic mass media
in Armenia. He cited the statement made by a number of journalistic
organizations on the same day, according to which the adoption of
such a law was inadmissible.