From July 10, 2015, the entire territory of Armenia will make a transition from the analog system of television broadcasting into a digital one. At the first glance, this advanced considered process has several controversial aspects. For example, the fact that the citizens will have the opportunity to view only 3-4 TV channels on their non-latest model TVs. Therefore, they have to acquire decoding devices that are attached to the TV. But these devices, as they say, are not dirt cheap. The minimum market price for decoders is not less than AMD 8000. And it turns out that everything is done for selling the decoders at any cost. While, the system is not regulated. No tender is announced so that the companies are specifically engaged in the import of these devices, hence, there is a chaos in the market. Ranging from entrepreneurs to persons engaged in large business are importing decoders.
Aravot.am asked the Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression Ashot Melikyan whether the process is so hasty proceeding in order to promote the business of some persons, Mr. Melikyan replied, “When a few months ago, all of this was discussed at the state instances, particularly at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the state officials were refrained from conducting such a tender and trusting this work to specific organizations because they were thinking that the rumors will restart that they want to give it to one of their structures. As a result, they simply failed working on it.” To our observation that the majority of the public is not aware of shifting to a digital transition from July, while some individuals have hurries to bring in a large batch of decoders, Ashot Melikyan responded, “There are enterprises that are more flexible and faster to decide and get information.”
Ashot Melikyan expressed concern that the field is not regulated and the state did not deal with it at all by leaving it to the private entrepreneurs, who can bring decoders of different origins, very cheap and low quality. While, in other countries, this process is regulated by the state. Ashot Melikyan noted, “The state should have dealt with not only the tender, but actively inform the population about the expected changes, how to be prepared for these changes and what steps to take. The technical, social and legislative directions should go parallel. Whereas, this defamatory law was passed in 2010. And nothing was done in the beginning, everything was left to the last day.” Note also that although the representatives of the state institutions claim that the socially vulnerable groups will get the decoder free of charge, but it is not known by what criteria these groups will be selected and which state body will be involved in the distribution of these devices.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
