KYRGYZ BROADCAST MEDIA: THE INFLUENTIAL AIRWAVES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001752

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, R, PA AND INR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ BROADCAST MEDIA: THE INFLUENTIAL AIRWAVES

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Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution.


1. (U) This is the third in a series of cables on the state
of the media in Kyrgyzstan, with additional cables covering
Kyrgyz National TV (KTR) and an overall analysis to follow.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Clearly all parties in the political
spectrum of Kyrgyzstan see broadcast media as the most
powerful and effective method of reaching a wide audience.
Thus, influential businessmen and politicians continue to vie
for control of the various television stations, with the
exception of state-owned National TV (KTR),the only station
with national coverage. Often a change in ownership is
followed by a change in editorial policy and, through the
years, the friction has often been between independent
stations and the presiding president. On the other hand,
radio airwaves blanket the population with the greatest
coverage, especially in rural areas and with low-income
families, for the least amount of financial backing.
Although there are more than twenty-five radio stations in
Bishkek and dozens more throughout the country, most are
entertainment only stations and few receive recognition as a
viable conduit for political rhetoric from either end of the
political spectrum. END SUMMARY.

VYING FOR CONTROL OF KYRGYZ TELEVISION
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KOORT


3. (SBU) The Kyrgyz Public Educational Radio and Television
Company (KOORT) is a privately owned broadcast company that
has changed hands numerous times since its inception. Until
the "Tulip Revolution" in 2005, KOORT had been considered the
most frequently viewed of all private Kyrgyz TV stations in
the country. KOORT offered over 60 hours per week of locally
produced programs in the Chui, Osh, Jalalabad, Issyk-Kul and
Talas oblasts. The remaining airtime was filled with
programming from Russia's NTV. Over the last year, however,
these programs have been reduced to a handful of news
segments repeated several times a day and coverage has been
reduced to the Chui oblast only. Former President Akayev's
son-in-law reportedly owned the station until 2005. Since
then, a group of minority stockholders as well as various
political figures have all attempted to take control of the
media company. Most recently, Valery Belokon, the Latvian
business partner of President Bakiyev's brother, Maxim, is
rumored to have purchased KOORT and will rename it 5th
Channel as of January 1, 2007. Sources close to the TV
station have already claimed that the channel will be
"critical of everyone, with the exception of the Bakiyev
family."

NTS


4. (SBU) Created in November 2004 by Russian oil firm Alyans,
Novaya Televizionnaya Set (NTS) debuted in Chui, Issyk-Kul,
Naryn and Osh oblasts as a private station re-broadcasting
Russia's TNT. Although NTS was also awarded exclusive
broadcasting rights to Russia's First Channel, the Akayev
regime refused to recognize these rights and continued to
broadcast the Russian programs on a channel controlled by the
state, thus benefiting from the lucrative advertising deals.
During the 2005 "Tulip Revolution", NTS General Director
Oksana Malevanaya, was part of the opposition against Akayev
and actively participated in the March 24 events. NTS began
broadcasting its own content on the day of the revolution.


5. (SBU) In September 2006, Alyans was purchased by GAZPROM,
but local Kyrgyz general manager, Omurbek Babanov, did not
include NTS in the package and retains control of the
station. Babanov, a pro-opposition parliamentarian, directed
NTS to broadcast the November 2006 demonstrations in support
of the opposition to criticize the government. During this

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time, unknown individuals cut power to the station's antennae
in Bishkek and Osh. Although armed guards and generators
quickly restored broadcasts from the Bishkek antenna, the
southern antenna, apparently rented from the government, has
yet to resume transmission in the south. Babanov recently
told the Ambassador he is interested in making NTS a
&public8 TV station, as a means of insulating the station
from political pressure.

PYRAMIDA TV


6. (SBU) Broadcasting in the Chui oblast and Osh City,
Pyramida TV was the only independent, private station during
the Akayev era. The station grew in popularity until March
2003, when, in an attempt to suppress independent media, the
Akayev government cut the firm's access to VHF signals. This
move crippled the station's ratings and drastically reduced
access by viewers. In late 2003, as part of a plan to
revitalize Pyramida, the company offered media firm Areopag
50% of stock as collateral for a loan of several million
dollars. Allegedly owned by Akayev's son, Areopag's
influence quickly changed Pyramida's editorial policy towards
the president, and Pyramida staff complained that station
managers misused the funds for personal gain.


7. (SBU) Since March 2005, Pyramida has been the target of
numerous attacks in an effort to disable its broadcast
capabilities. In August 2005, unknown men disassembled
Pyramida's transmitting equipment, halting all broadcasts.
Nearly ready to recommence transmissions, on September 28,
2006 several staff members were physically assaulted and the
television station was torched, causing over $200,000 in
damage. Many saw this attack as a form of strong-arming
Adylbek Biynazarov, president and owner of 45% of stock in
the firm, to relinquish control to InvestMedia, a company
said to be controlled by President Bakiyev's son, Maxim.
InvestMedia, reportedly the successor to Areopag, claims to
own Areopag's Pyramida shares and demands ownership rights.
Biynazarov maintains that the stock is being held as
collateral and that InvestMedia has no legal rights over
Pyramida. As the two sides face off in court, the television
station broadcasts on UHF to a fraction of its potential
audience. Currently, Pyramida TV holds vital VHF licenses
but lacks the essential equipment to resume broadcasting.

RADIO: THE FORGOTTEN MEDIA
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AZATTYK


8. (SBU) In operation since 1990, Azattyk Radio is the Kyrgyz
language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
covering nearly the entire country and maintains that
approximately 18% of the population listens to its FM and
Shortwave broadcasts. Azattyk Radio was by and large
untouched by the authorities until just three days before
parliamentary elections in February 2005, when
KyrgyzTelecom's State Broadcasting Company auctioned several
of Azattyk's frequencies. This action was a clear sign that
the Akayev regime felt the need to reduce the impact of
unbiased news reports during the elections. These
frequencies have since been restored. However, Azattyk rents
some of its airwaves from the state-owned television and
radio company, leaving them vulnerable to arbitrary service
cuts. Since the change in government in 2005, Azattyk had
anticipated but not yet received more support from the
Bakiyev government in establishing additional airwave
licenses and improving broadcast capabilities. However,
rumors are circulating that the government plans to cut
Azattyk's signal in the south and many rural areas. Azattyk
Radio station fills the inexpensive, balanced information
void left by a state-run TV station and newspapers.

ALMAZ

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9. (SBU) FM station Almaz is best known for its rebroadcasts
of programs from Azattyk Radio (RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service),
Svaboda Radio (RFE/RL Russian Service),Deutsche Welle, Voice
of America, and Moscow-based Mayak Radio. Started in 1992,
Almaz is an independent station based in Bishkek but serves
as the mother organization for several regional stations.
Established in 1997, Almaz-Yug was the first independent
radio station in Osh and currently the most popular in the
region. Almaz-Naryn was founded in 2001 and is funded by
sales of advertising, together with grant support from the
Soros Foundation and Internews to produce various pieces on
topics such as human rights, health, social and youth issues.
The founder of Almaz, Rustam Koshmuratov, was often harassed
or persecuted by the authorities during the final years of
the Akayev regime.

COMMENT
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10. (SBU) Similar to the print media, television broadcasts
in Kyrgyzstan lack independent and balanced reporting. For
some, access to more than one Kyrgyz channel only means the
possibility of one-sided reporting to counter that of the
national TV's pro-government slant. For others, KTR is their
only source of news and information on TV. Without access to
the Internet or the money to buy newspapers, most of those in
the rural areas turn to the radio as their only option for
inexpensive, unbiased news and information. End comment.
YOVANOVITCH