Why the Catholicos' Message Was Not Broadcast by Public Television: Clarification

The Public Television of Armenia did not refuse to broadcast the Catholicos' message. This was stated in a report by the board of the Public Broadcaster.

“On December 31, Public Television planned to broadcast the message of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, during one of the most viewed slots reserved for official messages this year. The Catholicos's speech was supposed to follow the speech of the President of Armenia, who is the head of state as per the Constitution. Unfortunately, on December 31, Father Vahram Melikyan, on behalf of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, informed the Public Broadcaster’s Board that there was a disagreement regarding the timing allocated for the messages and requested that the Catholicos' message not be broadcasted and not be used at all, since the copyright belongs to the Mother See. Since the request concerned only Public Television, the ‘Shoghakat’ TV channel and Public Radio, which are subordinate to the Board, aired the message, while the oral application regarding Public Television's broadcasting was approved.

There is no legislative regulation in Armenia regarding the broadcasting of New Year messages, which is why each television station decides on its own when and in what order to broadcast the messages, which is what happened. Considering the broad public reaction, we suggest regulating this issue within the legislative framework. We regret this incident and hope it does not affect the cooperation between Public Television and the Mother See,” the statement read.

It is recalled that earlier the information system of the Mother See reported that Public Television had refused to publish the Catholicos' New Year message before midnight, as has been the custom every year. According to the statement, instead, H1 proposed to present the message of the Catholicos of All Armenians during the evening news broadcast, which was “not appropriately acknowledged and rejected by the Mother See.”

“Public Television, at the last minute, informed without any justification that the Catholicos' New Year message would not be broadcasted before midnight, as has been traditionally accepted,” the message stated.