The BCC distributed all Slots in Multiplex A

On Tuesday, June 7, the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) chose the last three TV channels for Multiplex A. They are Jurnal TV, Accent TV, and ITV Moldova. Two other channels that applied – NTV Moldova and RTR Moldova – obtained no votes from BCC members. In early April, the BCC voted for inclusion of other 12 channels into the first digital Multiplex. Thus, the 15 televisions in Multiplex A will be as follows: Moldova 1, TVR Moldova, Canal Regional TV, TV 7, N 4, Publika TV, Canal 2, Canal 3, Prime, AGRO TV MOLDOVA, CTC Mega, Super TV, Jurnal TV, Accent TV and ITV Moldova.

The BCC mentioned that today’s vote was based on the percentage of domestic product. They also took into consideration the number of programs in the state language and the outlet’s financial possibilities. The televisions that were included into the Multiplex will pay about EUR 6,000 per month. BCC member Nicolae Damaschin said: “I hope that there will be local broadcasters in the second multiplex.”

BCC Chairman Dinu Ciocan said at the meeting that the launch of the second multiplex depends of the responsibility of broadcasters that have already access to the first multiplex and on how quickly they will honor their obligations and will broadcast in this multiplex and will really start paying their tariffs. In this context, Dinu Ciocan appealed to the broadcasters that will enter the first multiplex, asking them to sign, as quickly as possible, contracts with the “Radiocomunicatii” state enterprise and to start broadcasting through digital Multiplex A, so as to then let other broadcasters deliver programs under the same conditions.

Asked by Media Azi, media expert Ion Bunduchi commented on the completion of Multiplex A:

“The fact that one of the three national multiplexes exists, even if it came with considerable delay, is good. Also, it is good that all slots in Multiplex A were distributed, even if it was at second trial. Now we have to see how it will work. Not so good is the situation with diversity, or rather lack of diversity, of content in the multiplex. Ideally, Multiplex A should mean: 5 informative, 5 educational, and 5 entertainment televisions. But as there is too little room for something perfect in domestic broadcasting, we have what we have. We repeatedly pleaded for a ‘social package’ in the first multiplex, as they have in societies that care for provision of proper information to citizens. It means that the ‘social package’ should be able to meet information needs of various categories of viewers – categories based on age or interests. What is more, we don’t know exactly when the other multiplexes will appear (the fact that it’s written on paper is not a guarantee), and we don’t know if they will be requested, given that many broadcasters find the fee too large.”