On October 21 the National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR) released the list of TV companies, who had applied for running in the 18 broadcast licensing competitions. As it has been reported, the competitions, announced on July 20, 2010, are held in Armenia for the first time and are stipulated by the digital switchover from analogue broadcasting. The competitions provide for licensing of: 6 national TV channels (five are of general profile, one – for rebroadcasting), 9 TV channels in Yerevan (each for – entertainment; youth; music; youth/educational/scientific; international/current affairs; general profile, and three – for rebroadcasting), 3 regional TV channels (all are of general profile). The deadline for the applications was October 20 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 16-22, 2010).
According to the information, stored on the NCTR site (www.tvradio.am), in the competitions for national TV channels of general profile are running (in brackets is the order number of the competition): “Armenia TV” CJSC (No. 1); “Shant” LLC (No. 2); “Second Armenian TV Channel” LLC (No. 3); “Multimedia-Kentron TV” CJSC (No. 4); “Husaber” CJSC, founder of “Yerkir Media” TV company (No. 5). “Ansver” LLC (No. 6) is running in the competitions for national TV channels as a re-broadcaster.
Among the applicants for the competitions for the TV channels in Yerevan are: “ATV” LLC (No. 7, entertainment profile); “ALM Holding” LLC, founder of “ALM” TV company, and “Yerevan TV Company” CJSC (No. 8, youth profile); “Dar-21 TV company” CJSC (No. 9, musical profile); “AR TV Company” LLC (No. 10, youth/educational/scientific profile); "ArmNews" LLC and “Meltex” LLC, founder of “A1+” TV company (No. 11, international/current affairs profile); “Shark” LLC, founder of “Hay TV” (No. 15, general profile). “Kaym TV Company” LLC, “Paradiz” LLC and “Arajin Aliq” LLC have applied for rebroadcasting in Yerevan (No. 12, No. 13, No. 14, respectively).
In the competitions for regional TV channels of general profile run: “Tavush TV” LLC (No. 16, Tavush region); “Fortuna” LLC (No. 17, Lori region); “Geghama Media Holding” LLC (No. 18, Gegharquniq region).
Thus, only two competitions (No. 8 and No. 11) have two applicants, each. While, in the other competitions the companies do not have any rivals.
At the NCTR session of October 21 the timeline of presenting the competition packages was approved – according to the order numbers and the sequence of submitting the applications.
The submission of the bids started on October 27 and will last until October 29. The competition winners will be defined on December 16, 2010.
On October 28 the National Commission on Television and Radio presented the other list of the applicants, running in the seven competitions for regional TV channels of general profile. The competitions were announced on July 27 and the deadline for the applications was October 27 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, August 26 – September 2, 2010).
Among the bidders are: “Telelex” LLC, founder of “Artashat” TV company (No. 19, Ararat region); “Nor Dar, Nor Hazaramyak” LLC (No. 20, Armavir region); “ArpaInform” LLC (No. 21, Vayots Dzor region); “Abovyan TV Editorial Office” LLC and “Sirak” LLC (No. 22, Kotayk region); “CHAP” LLC, founder of “GALA” TV company, and “Tsayg” LLC (No. 23, Shirak region); “Dzagedzor TV Company” LLC, founder of “Sosi” TV company (No. 24, Syuniq region); “Yerevan Media Holding” LLC (No. 25, Aragatsotn region).
Only two competitions (Kotayk region, No. 22, and Shirak region, No. 23) have two applicants, each.
The presentation of the applications will be held on November 3. The competition winners will be determined on December 23, 2010.
