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TV CONCERNS: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING DELAYING TRANSITION TO DIGITAL BROADCASTING
NEWS | 02.04.15 | 15:55
Photo: OSCE/Gayane Ter-Stepanyan
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The conversion of the Armenian analogue broadcasting system into
digital, which has originally been scheduled to start from July 1,
2015, the government is likely to postpone it.
National Assembly member Edmon Marukyan suggested the government
delaying the deadline of converting the analogue TV broadcasting
system into digital till 2017; he believes that this conversion
might result in a close-down of around a dozen TV channels, which
will cause unemployment of several hundred people. The changes in the
law about "TV and Radio" that Marukyan suggests will extend analogue
functioning licenses for another two years and meanwhile will enable
to find better solutions.
At the Thursday government meeting Armenian Minister of Transport and
Communication Gagik Beglaryan said that the suggestion is acceptable,
only the clear deadlines must be discussed.
"By digitizing certain amount of frequency domains will be liberated,
and the state budget will have significant financial inflow by
providing this domain, expenses for providing analog networks for
the mentioned period will almost be doubled, considering also the
financial means necessary for maintenance of analog networks," the
minister said, adding that in the future the Armenian Ministry of
Transport and Communication will present the bill of changes to the
law about "TV and Radio" to the government's discussion.
Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE) Chairman Ashot
Melikyan said that digital broadcasting is installed in 80 percent
of Armenia, but according to him, there are still reasons justifying
the delay of the conversion project.
"We must solve social problems, specifically providing decoding
equipment to poor families. Of course, the fault of the state is that
during 2010-2014 nothing was being done, processes ran very slow, and
now, when the deadline is close there are numerous unsolved questions,"
Melikyan said, adding that conversion to the new system is important
not only in terms of quality, but also this is one of our country's
international responsibilities and if Armenia does not convert to
digital system it will hinder the region's countries.
http://armenianow.com/news/62024/armenia_broadcasting_digital_television
NEWS | 02.04.15 | 15:55
Photo: OSCE/Gayane Ter-Stepanyan
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The conversion of the Armenian analogue broadcasting system into
digital, which has originally been scheduled to start from July 1,
2015, the government is likely to postpone it.
National Assembly member Edmon Marukyan suggested the government
delaying the deadline of converting the analogue TV broadcasting
system into digital till 2017; he believes that this conversion
might result in a close-down of around a dozen TV channels, which
will cause unemployment of several hundred people. The changes in the
law about "TV and Radio" that Marukyan suggests will extend analogue
functioning licenses for another two years and meanwhile will enable
to find better solutions.
At the Thursday government meeting Armenian Minister of Transport and
Communication Gagik Beglaryan said that the suggestion is acceptable,
only the clear deadlines must be discussed.
"By digitizing certain amount of frequency domains will be liberated,
and the state budget will have significant financial inflow by
providing this domain, expenses for providing analog networks for
the mentioned period will almost be doubled, considering also the
financial means necessary for maintenance of analog networks," the
minister said, adding that in the future the Armenian Ministry of
Transport and Communication will present the bill of changes to the
law about "TV and Radio" to the government's discussion.
Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE) Chairman Ashot
Melikyan said that digital broadcasting is installed in 80 percent
of Armenia, but according to him, there are still reasons justifying
the delay of the conversion project.
"We must solve social problems, specifically providing decoding
equipment to poor families. Of course, the fault of the state is that
during 2010-2014 nothing was being done, processes ran very slow, and
now, when the deadline is close there are numerous unsolved questions,"
Melikyan said, adding that conversion to the new system is important
not only in terms of quality, but also this is one of our country's
international responsibilities and if Armenia does not convert to
digital system it will hinder the region's countries.
http://armenianow.com/news/62024/armenia_broadcasting_digital_television