Lragir, Armenia
Jan 16 2008
WHY REGIONAL TV CHANNELS REFUSE TO EARN MONEY?
The head of the election office of the leader of the Orinats Yerkir
Party Arthur Baghdasaryan wondered in a news conference at the
Pastark Club on January 16 why the regional TV channels refuse to
provide commercial airtime for political advertisements. They explain
by their reluctance to become engaged in the election process.
Heghine Bisharyan wonders why the TV channels miss the chance to get
profit from political commercials. The head of the election office of
Arthur Baghdasaryan says it is apparently the instruction of the
government not to broadcast political ads.
Heghine Bisharyan also complained of the tactics of Yerevan-based TV
channels, including the national channels which will broadcast
political ads between 17 o’clock and 21 o’clock, which means that if
each candidate is given 6 minutes, the campaign that starts at 17
o’clock ends on an hour, and the people who are on their way from
work to home cannot watch political ads. Heghine Bisharyan views this
approach in the context of government pressure. As to commercial
airtime, the deputy leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party Heghine
Bisharyan says they do not have a financial problem but considering
that all the TV channels will broadcast ads in the same hours, they
will buy airtime from the national TV channels only.