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An interview conducted last week by Media Azi with Alexandru Dorogan, a member of the Electronic Press Association, points out the difficulties faced by the regional TV stations in the process of transition to digitisation. “The only good solution to be applied by the State is to build the required regional multiplexes and to rent the slots to local broadcasters at reasonable prices”, Alexandru Dorogan proposed.
In a commentary on this interview, the director of Cimişlia Media TV station, Andrei Bargan, welcomed the idea of State involvement in the transition to digitisation, “at least, in relation with the local and regional TV stations (either building regional multiplexes, using the State’s resources, and renting them further to local TV stations or providing free of charge (by the State) the required sets of documents, the designs for the construction of multiplexes, or by the means of a public-private partnership”. At the same time, Andrei Bargan pointed out the need for conducting a meeting of the local broadcasters with the representatives of the Ministry of Telecommunications and of media NGO-s, with the participation of potential funders for the project of digitisation of local TV broadcasting”.
How could the State support the digitisation of local / regional TV stations, so that they follow their activity and do not disappear during this process? To what extent is feasible the idea that the State shall build the required regional multiplexes and rent the slots to the local broadcasters at reasonable prices? Finally: What should be undertaken in order not to remain without local TV stations, as a result of the digitisation? Wishing to find out a range of opinions and, possibly, solutions to the problem of transition to the digitisation of local / regional TV stations, we requested the managers of the concerned TV channels, the specialists in charge of digitisation within the State institutions and other stakeholders to express their viewpoints on this issue.
Today, we publish the first two opinions.
Ludmila Topal, director of Canal Regional TV station: Building a regional multiplex and renting it to local broadcasters, at an affordable price, would be a way out of this situation
“In my opinion, the State should cover a significant share of expenditures in the process of transition of the regional stations to digital broadcasting. The role of these televisions to inform the inhabitants of the district towns and villages and this role cannot be neglected: thanks to the efforts of the small teams of regional TV studios, the citizens are provided with information that concerns and matters for them, first of all.
Unfortunately, these televisions still exist now thanks to the enthusiasm of their managers and staff - advertising is not a resource for us and the local authorities do not support us anyhow. A part of the resources required for the production of broadcasts come from grants, but they are insufficient for the upkeep of the TV channels. In this difficult financial situation, none regional television will be able to purchase a slot in a Multiplex. Even if several televisions join together, like in the case of Canal Regional, we will not succeed. If this problem is not solved at the State level, the inhabitants of the regions will shortly remain without a source of local information. The construction of a distinct regional multiplex and renting it to local broadcasters, at an affordable price, would be a way out of this situation.
At the same time, a share of financial resources could be planned in the budgets of local government authorities, because they should also be interested in the timely and objective information of the region’s inhabitants.
We hope that, as a result of the transition to the digital system, the regional TV stations will become more attractive for advertisers, too, and this will help us use the multiplex in the future”.
Veaceslav Pascal, technical director, “Radiocomunicații” State Enterprise: The transition to digital broadcasting requires huge investments that the State cannot afford
“It is not feasible that the State builds a slot for the local / regional broadcasters. The State, in fact, does not participate in the construction of the multiplex. The transition to digital broadcasting requires huge investments that the State cannot afford. The digitisation has been subject to discussions for a very long time. The broadcasters were provided training within a number of local and international fora. Debates and workshops were conducted to train them on the process of transition to the digital system. They knew beforehand the costs and the investments to be made. The broadcasters ought to plan their expenditures. We see in fact a budget planning problem”...
