PARLIAMENT ADOPTS BILL ON AMENDMENTS IN LAW ON TV AND RADIO

Tert.am
20.05.10

The National Assembly of Armenia started its work today by voting on a
bill discussed yesterdey. With 72 "for," 9 "against" and 6 "abstained"
the parliament adopted the Government-proposed bill to introducing
amendements to the "Law about TV and Radio."

Among those voting against this bill were all the MPs from the
Heritage Party, some from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and
two independent MPs.

These amendments envisage the digitalization of the Armenia TV
channels. Only 18 out of 24 TV channels will be aired as soon as
these amendments are implemented.

This licensing process of the Armenian TV channels will start from June
1 and will end by January 31,2011. The Government has allotted about
10-12 million AMD for the whole digitalization process. This includes
also compensation, from the state budget, for the socially vulnerable
class in an attempt to help them install special parts to their TVs
otherwise they will not be able to watch the digitalized TV channels.

The special parts mentioned will cost about $50-60 USD (19,200-23040
AMD per 384 exchange rate).

The digitalization process is planned to last till 2015.

Ironically, the Government proposed the bill to the National Assembly’s
approval as an obligatory one, while the NA Standing Committee on
Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport did not have enough time
to properly discuss the bill before it would be brought to a vote.