A1-PLUS FAILS YET AGAIN TO WIN FREQUENCY

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000721

SIPDIS

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DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM
SUBJECT: A1-PLUS FAILS YET AGAIN TO WIN FREQUENCY


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accordingly.


1. (SBU) The independent television and media company
A1-Plus failed to win a radio frequency in the latest
of its recurrent attempts to resume broadcasts. The
National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR, a
regulatory body appointed by President Robert
Kocharian) rejected the A1-Plus application for one of
two radio frequencies put out for tender. As on
previous occasions, the Commission announced that A1-
Plus's competitors submitted stronger bids. A1-Plus
representatives dismissed the explanation, alleging
that the NCTR members simply backed up a political
decision of the authorities not to provide A1-Plus with
any frequencies. Mediamax head (and member of the
NCTR) told us, however, that the case was less clear
cut: he noted that the two winning bids offered more
money for development than A1-Plus, and that both
included more in-house production as part of their
bids. A1-Plus had proposed a news radio format, while
the two successful bidders proposed formats strictly
devoted to entertainment.


2. (SBU) The commission voted unanimously to give both
frequencies to little-known companies. One of the
frequency winners, Ulis Media, is based at the Yerevan
premises of the Armenian Public Radio, nevertheless its
chief executive said the company simply rents office
space there but has no ties with the government-
controlled broadcaster. Local press has linked the
other winner, Radio Pro, with Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian's Republican Party. (Note: A1-Plus, the
only national channel that was not loyal to the
Kocharian administration, was forced off the air in
April 2002 just hours after losing a first-ever
frequency tender. It has since participated in eleven
other tenders for television and radio frequencies and
lost all of them. End Note.)
EVANS