Apart from us, no one cares about the situation: Tigran Hakobyan

As of December 31, 2023, there have been 28 television companies under our control. These include both city-covering television stations and regional ones, as well as three Russian channels. Last year, we already had our own television companies in all 10 regions. In 2019, there were 6 regional television companies operating; now there are 10. This was stated today by the Chairman of the Commission on Television and Radio, Tigran Hakobyan, during a press conference.

According to him, there are 35 radio stations operating in the territory of Armenia. Up until 2020, regional radio stations operated only in Gyumri and Vanadzor, but now they exist in almost all regions. "We place great importance on the fact that especially in border regions, such as Tavush and Syunik, local radio companies are already functioning," he said.

Based on ongoing monitoring, Tigran Hakobyan noted that 64 administrative cases have been initiated in 2023, 57 of which were initiated by the commission itself. "I should mention that the opposite picture is observed worldwide; in most cases, proceedings are initiated based on complaints from the public, political forces, or individuals. Unfortunately, apart from us, no one cares about the situation. Reports of deficiencies are only raised either in the press or on social networks, without appealing to the regulatory body. In 2023, 64 administrative proceedings were initiated, while only 13 cases were initiated over six years from 2013 to 2018. For comparison, 232 proceedings were initiated between 2019 and 2023. This is where we are often accused of being too rigid regarding the activities of television companies. However, this is not the case, as administrative proceedings are opened on dozens of grounds, including violations of advertising laws, language laws, and numerous cases of infringement of copyright and related rights. If we remove the informational noise from the side, television and radio companies are in agreement with our decisions," said Tigran Hakobyan.

The Chairman of the Commission also mentioned that 33 cases have been sent to the Administrative Court from 2019 to 2023. In contrast, only one case was sent to court between 2011 and 2019. "What does this say? Apart from judicial bodies and legal relations, we do not try to exert any influence on the media. The media, if it believes that our decisions are incorrect, has no issue appealing to court, which is very important for creating a rule of law," he noted. Hakobyan also mentioned that 92 licenses have been granted between 2019 and 2023.