On April 2 the RA Central Electoral Commission made a resolution on the procedure and the timeline for public TV and radio to provide air for pre-election promotion to parties/bloc, running for seats in RA National Assembly by proportional representation system (the elections will take place on May 6, 2012).
The succession of the parties/bloc to be given air by public broadcasters was determined by a timeline made after sortition and approved by CEC. The air for pre-election promotion is given to parties/bloc daily, since April 8 till May 4.
The political advertising is aired by the First Channel of the Public Television of Armenia and on Public Radio of Armenia – by the frequency 69.7 MHz and by the republican FM network (in Yerevan – by the frequency 107.7 MHz). At the same time, the public broadcasters will ensure the simultaneous broadcasting on the air of “Shirak” (which is a part of the Public TV and Radio company).
The broadcast of pre-election promotion of parties/bloc on the Public Television starts at 18.00, and on Public Radio – at 13.30 and at 21.40. In case of a technical need, the broadcasters may shift the timeframes, specified by 30 minutes at most.
Each party/bloc is given 60 minutes of free and 120 minutes of paid airtime on the Public Television. The duration of pre-election promotion for each party/bloc is determined as follows: a) on April 8-22 – 2 minutes of free and 4 minutes of paid airtime; b) on April 23-28 – 2 free minutes and 5 paid minutes; c) on April 29 – May 4 – 3 free minutes and 5 paid minutes.
Each party/bloc on Public Radio receives 120 minutes of free and 180 minutes of paid airtime. The pre-election promotion of each party/bloc is broadcast twice a day (in the morning and evening airtime), while its duration will be as follows: a) on April 8-25 – 4 minutes of free airtime (2 minutes in the morning and evening, each) and 6 minutes of paid airtime (3 minutes in the morning and evening, each); b) April 26-28 – 4 free minutes (2 minutes in the morning and evening, each) and 8 paid minutes (4 minutes in the morning and evening, each); c) April 29 – May 4 – 6 free minutes (3 minutes in the morning and evening, each) and 8 paid minutes (4 minutes in the morning and evening, each).
If a party/bloc has not used the time allocated in accordance with the timeline, it does not receive make-up airtime. The airtime, allocated to one party/bloc, cannot be used by another party/bloc. The public broadcasters allot live air to parties/blocs, in case of their request – also a program host, or broadcast video and audio materials, provided by the party/bloc.
