POLITICAL DECISION WAS MADE
Support A1+!Today TV and Radio National Committee appointed by Robert Kocharyan summed up the tender announced for 25 UHF. As expected “the mightiest”, “the richest”, “the most modern”, and “the most entertaining” “Armenia” TV Company won.
When marking the tender proposals, it was evident that the roles among the committee members had already been distributed: e.g, “Mediamax” Agency head Ara Tadevosyan, proceeding from professional solidarity, hadn’t assumed the role for decisive marking - he granted 4 points to each of TV Companies.
”Garun” literary journal editor Karine Khodikyan, who had introduced herself as an “A1+” admirer for many times, acted the same way. She marked “Armenia”, tolerating “Bernard Show” to broadcast on /let’s remind that Mrs Khodikyan voiced dissatisfaction over that entertaining program the day of representing the tender proposals/ and “A1+” proposals 4 points each.
No need to talk about the rest of the members. Only the Committee Chair Grigor Amalyan gave “A1+” 2 and “Armenia” TV 5 points.
Superiority of domestically produced programs, volume of own programs in the home ones, technical equipment and finance provision, and professional readiness of the staff in a TV Company are accepted as main standards under the Law on TV and Radio.
Under 3 criteria “A1+” superiority was beyond controversy, and at a finance matter “Armenia” promise was a little bit more. But Amalyan graded “A1+” 2 and “Armenia” 5.
Amalyan commented on his approach this way: “Indeed, “A1+” proposal essentially differs from the previous one. In particular, some issues were dwelt on clearly. Air conception of “A1+” was represented in details. But unfortunately, the program that “A1+” had produced bore no substantiation for implementation. It seemed 5 million $ were enough to carry out the project, but there was no logic or argument for guarantee of those investments” .
Let’s remind that “Sharm” Company competing with “A1+” last April introduced alike financial substantiation. Committee considered those paper promises as realistic, and basing upon it removed “A1+” from air.
At the previous tender “Sharm” TV Company had put in 2 contracts, saying they are ready for mutual collaboration. This time “A1+” represented 12 agreements on co-operation.
Nevertheless, Amalyan doesn’t believe the guarantees by “A1+” TV. Last time the Committee labelled “A1+” proposal as “weak”. Now the Committee members say it is well made but is suspect. And last time Amalyan marked “A1+” 1, this time 2, despite calling the proposal “essentially differing from the previous one”.
TV and Radio National Committee performed the political order “of the super posts” for the ordinary time. One of our colleagues courteously “informed” Amalyan about it, saying a political decision was reached at.
One has nothing else to do but being surprised at recent hysteria of “Armenia” TV. If the TV Company had a few worshippers thanks to soap operas, it lost them because of unbalanced and unrestrained conduct of the TV Company Chair. Bagrat Sargssyan could be belt up as his sort of a human being is “appreciated and needed” now.
The tender proved that unlucky days for power are still in the future, and Authorities are unable to tolerate the truth on air.
