(U) NATIONAL TV AND RADIO REPLACES STATE TV

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000245 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, SA, AND DRL E.O. 12958: 01/31/16 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL UZ SUBJECT: (U) NATIONAL TV AND RADIO REPLACES STATE TV CLASSIFIED BY AMB. JON R. PURNELL, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D). REF: 05 TASHKENT 3128 ¶1. (U) On January 28 Uzbekistan's state-owned television company, "Uzbekistan State Television and Radio," officially reverted to its former name of "Uzbekistan National Television and Radio." This followed a November presidential decree bringing television and radio stations under unified management, sharing news and programming content (reftel). Tashkent Television Channel and Dostlik Radio have merged to become Tashkent TV and Radio. Yoshlar ("Youth") TV and Radio stations have become a "closed joint stock society." Channel Sport and Mashal ("Beacon") Radio have merged to form Sport TV and Radio. ¶2. (C) Comment: While couched in language about strengthening competition and increasing the independence of television and radio, the reforms to state television are clearly designed to tighten GOU control of the mass media. The consolidation of several television and radio channels will impose further uniformity of content and editorial positions, and give the President even greater control over the flow of information. PURNELL