Today, in TV licensing competition “A1+” lost with “ArmNews” TV Company that had submitted an application for the same frequency. This is the 13th defeat of “A1+” since April 2, 2002.
Another beaten TV Company of the same competition among 20 national and capital TV companies “struggling” for 18 frequencies is “ALM”, which is 8 points behind its opponent “Yerevan” channel.
Before the results’ publication there were opinions that the competition is of conditional character, as besides 2 frequencies all the other 16 were applied for only by one TV channel. After the assessments of the National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR) this opinion became a conviction for many.
7 out of the 8 members of the National Commission on Television and Radio assessed 0 point to the application submitted by “A1+” owner Meltex LLC. Only 1 member, the executive director of MediaMax News Agency Ara Tadevosyan assessed 2 points. Opponent of “A1+” TV channel “ArmNews” received 44 points which means that the channel will remain on air.
Today, in TV licensing competition “A1+” lost with “ArmNews” TV Company that had submitted an application for the same frequency. This is the 13th defeat of “A1+” since April 2, 2002.
Another beaten TV Company of the same competition among 20 national and capital TV companies “struggling” for 18 frequencies is “ALM”, which is 8 points behind its opponent “Yerevan” channel.
Before the results’ publication there were opinions that the competition is of conditional character, as besides 2 frequencies all the other 16 were applied for only by one TV channel. After the assessments of the National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR) this opinion became a conviction for many.
7 out of the 8 members of the National Commission on Television and Radio assessed 0 point to the application submitted by “A1+” owner Meltex LLC. Only 1 member, the executive director of MediaMax News Agency Ara Tadevosyan assessed 2 points. Opponent of “A1+” TV channel “ArmNews” received 44 points which means that the channel will remain on air.
At a press conference, held after voting, the NCTR chairman Grigor Amalyan commented on the mostly 0 points received “A1+”. He said that the Commission has revealed “evidently false documents” in the competition packet submitted by the company. In particular it was about the documents submitted with the application of Meltex LLC, according to which Hobington Management LTD and Rogeston Logistics LTD are obliged to financially support Meltex LLC.
“British Official Register of the competent body of running enterprises informed us that there has been a similar venture (Hobington Management LTD) in Britain, which suspended its activities in 2007. In 2006, already, its assets amounted to 2 pounds. That is, for already long ago this company doesn’t operate, but is obliged to financially support Meltex LLC,” says Amalyan.
According to Amalyan the Commission has received such information also about Rogeston Logistics LTD.
Meltex LTD director Mesrop Movsisyan denies the existence of false documents and intends to appeal the decision of the National Radio and Television Commission in the court.
For 8 years, out of the blue screen, the staff of “A1+” has kept on working through www.a1plus.am website being number one with the number of its visitors. This was the website where “A1+” has posted the video reports of own production. Through the same site “A1+” has also started 24-hour broadcasting since September of this year.
The broadcast channel “ALM”, which belongs to the People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan since 2002, will be aired until January 21 of the next year, in accordance with the terms of extension of licenses – related to transition changes of digital broadcasting in Armenia.
Authors of 7 zeros
1. Grigor Amalyan, chairman of NCTR
2. Zhirayr Dadasyan
3. Simavon Andreasyan
4. Armen Mkrtchyan
5. Aram Melkonyan
6. Hayk Kotanyan
7. Koryun Arakelyan