January 8, 2019, Yerevan

On 28th of December 2018 the Commission on Television and Radio announced that the 6 month long competition for licensing of a private multiplex broadcasting operation had failed. The basis for this decision was the fact that during the defined period no application was received. This is the third tender without results, which is announced failed with the same reasoning. The previous two were held in 2016 and 2017. The failure of each of this tenders means that

• the operator of the public digital network, i.e. state-owned multiplexor, will maintain its monopoly position,
• for another year, in the field of broadcasting appearing of new “players” and creating new terms of tender are excluded,
• the obscure situation will continue for 10 local TV companies operating in the provinces, which, as a result of short-sighted policy and unfair tender in the field, have been left outside the digitization process, and they continue to operate in analogue mode and are waiting for the creation of the private multiplexor.

In fact, a situation has emerged, when the country need a private multiplex, but nobody submits an application for the tender. We believe the reason is not the absence of interest, but the fact that the terms and requirement stipulated by the “RA Law on TV and radio” to create a private digital network for broadcasting are not realistic and attractive from the business perspective, and they do not contribute to the development of this field. Under these conditions, the tenders organized by the TVRC have no perspective and are just of formal nature.

Taking into consideration the aforementioned, we, the undersigned organizations call for the

• newly elected National Assembly to initiate discussions to make radical reforms in the “RA Law on TV and radio”,
• RA Government and the TV and Radio Commission to develop and introduce to the public a modern program to solve the number of problems in this field, based on the international experience and considering the recommendations made by the specialized media organizations.

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB
MEDIA INITIATIVES CENTER
“ASPAREZ” JOURNALISTS CLUB
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER OF ARMENIA
MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE – ARMENIA
PUBLIC JOURNALISM CLUB
JOURNALISTS FOR THE FUTURE
JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
GORIS PRESS CLUB