The prices of political advertisement on TV channels are now clear.
Shant – 120 000 drams (VAT included)
Armenia TV – 110 000 drams (VAT included)
H1 – 80 000 drams (VAT included)
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H2 – 60 000 drams (VAT included)/30 000 drams (VAT included) till 6p.m.
Kentron – 32 400 drams (VAT included)
Yerkir Media – 30 000 drams (without VAT)
A TV – 24 000 drams (VAT included)
AR – 20 000 drams (VAT included)
ArmNews – 18 000 drams (VAT included)
Yerevan – 15 000 drams (VAT included)
RADIO 107 FM – 2800 drams (VAT included)
Public Radio – 3600 drams (VAT included) www.aravot.am inquired of some candidates for president whether those prices were rational and affordable for all candidates.
Aram Harutyunyan, a candidate for president, replied: “If we counted the advertisement policy and payments, our treasury would be filled. But I doubt that that money goes to the treasury, since those are really huge numbers. Imagine how big the kickbacks are. I cannot imagine that anyone without support can be engaged in such a profitable business. As for my using or not using paid airtime, let’s see how big the pre-election budget will be. It will be clear in the first few days. The problem is that in the New Year, TV channels showed some candidates more than Santa Clause. One can already notice inequality. For example, I submitted the deposit certificate, but no TV channel said anything about that. Even if the Public Television’s herald had ridden a horse down to the Central Election Commission (CEC) from Nork, he would have managed to bring that news till 9 p.m. I think this is deliberate.”
Political scientist Andreas Ghukasyan, a candidate for president, said during a conversation with us that working for the mass media for 15 years, he knew quite well with which information agency one should work with, and what audience it has. Therefore, he will organize his advertisement campaign based on that experience. Then answering our question related to paid airtime, he went into detail: “The prices are realistic, if we consider the fact that the law provides for prices set by TV and radio companies during the six months preceding the campaign, therefore, I don’t see any problem here. The election process presupposes that candidates should establish funds; they have a right to invest five million drams of their own money. Those funds cannot exceed those limits. If we compare the sum permissible by the law and the prices, we can say that those prices make it possible for candidates to inform society about their programs in one month. And if you mean that some candidates may spend more than five million drams, it is an unlawful attitude. And what is unlawful is unacceptable for me.”
Karine Harutyunyan, the coordinator of public relations at Hrant Bagratyan’s campaign headquarters, communicated their opinion, “There are some TV and radio companies, which set rational prices, and we will use their services. Every TV company is a private company, and it determines its prices. We can criticize nothing here.”
Vardan Sedrakyan, an expert in epic poems, didn’t wish to answer our questions. And when we said that it was in his interest, as a candidate for president, to present his viewpoint to the audience, Mr. Sedrakyan said the following: “Well, I will manage somehow without www.aravot.am.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
