Khachik Danielyan. “In the result of digitalization process, Armenian TV stations would lose their viewers.”

Narine Avetisyan believes that if the law does not undergo respective amendments, the right of the TV viewer of Armenia, especially in the marzes, with regard to having an alternative, would be violated.

“Իn 2010, when the tender on shifting to digitalization was announced by the National Commission of Television and Radio, “Lori” TV company did not participate, because the winner was predetermined,” announced Narine Avetisyan, Director of “Lori” TV company, today, on December 16, during the public hearing on the “Challenges for Shifting to Digital Broadcast System in Armenia”.

She believes that if the law does not undergo respective amendments, the right of the TV viewer of Armenia, especially in the marzes, with regard to having an alternative, would be violated. “It turns out that 10 regional TV stations, 18 city and national broadcast television companies have appeared in a privileged status, and the state does some actions instead of them. It’s not enough that we express willingness to solve our problems independently, yet, we have to ask for making amendments in the law so that this opportunity is granted to us.”

Referring to private multiplexes, Mrs. Avetisyan mentioned that it is uncertain for her whether there is a guarantee that the person who has made investments would include its TV company into the package, or if the TV company’s program policy is not pleasant to the palate of given person, he will not take it out of his package. “Here, I see that there is a serious problem with legislative regulation, but if we are going to deal with the private sector, the private sector shall dictate its own rules.” Khachik Danielyan, Director of “ALT” TV company, said that he does not think that the farmer would buy an antenna and a decoding device for 100 USD to watch 8 + 1 channels. According to him, instead, the farmer will install a satellite and will be able to have 100 and more channels. Mr. Danielyan believes that in the result of this process, the TV companies will be deprived of their viewers.

Ami CHICHAKYAN