Asparez journalists club argues for banning commercials on public TV

YEREVAN, November 13. / ARKA /. Levon Barseghyan, head of  Asparez journalist club, says the Public Television of Armenia must be  banned from airing commercials.

"We propose that relevant changes be made  to the law on television and radio, which will ban  the Armenian Public TV from airing commercials. We are not against airing social advertising,’ he told journalists.

He said he had sent relating proposals to about 75 deputies of the National Assembly , whose e-mail addresses were available on the website of the parliament, but only two MPs – Levon Zurabyan from the Armenian National Congress and Tevan Poghosyan from Zharangutryun (Heritage) responded. Naira Zohrabyan from Prosperous Armenia  notified him she read his proposals.

Barseghyan said the ban would free about 640 hours of air time a year, which can be given to  educational, cultural and informative programs. He said commercials are said to generate about one billion drams a year. If the proposals were accepted the government would have to increase Public Television’s funding by one billion drams and increase it to 3.4 billion drams.

Currently, the Public Television of Armenia may use 14 minutes of every hour or 7 percent of the total air time to air commercials. ($ 1-409.47 drams). -0-

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21:14 11/13/2012