Chiril Lucinschi on a “Deep Reform of TV7 Channel”

The TV7 television channel will go through reorganization, following which a new owner will hold the majority stake, and the broadcast schedule will change essentially.

About the reorganization of TV7 Chiril Lucinschi, MP of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced on Wednesday, February 22, at a press briefing, where he said he was leaving his MP mandate and withdrawing from the party because he was going to engage into a European project that is incompatible with his political activity. “On February 9, a meeting of the European Endowment for Democracy took place in Brussels. And at that meeting a project by a group of journalists was presented, which provides for a deep reform of TV7 channel,” said Chiril Lucinschi.

The ex-MP explained his gesture of withdrawing from politics: “I don't want to damage the image and I don't want there to be any insinuations, misinterpretations,” because “it will be an activity incompatible with my status of politician.”

TV 7 Director Cristina Gutu confirmed that currently discussions are held with some journalists who would be part of the association, but she would not give concrete names, as long as things are just being discussed. Referring to how the channel will be reorganized, she said: “There will be a change of broadcast schedule - we are planning for more of our own programs, political, analytical and entertainment. We will also restore the creative team, and we foresee appearance of new faces on screen. The funds received from the European Endowment for Democracy only partially cover the channel’s costs. So, TV7 will anyway be self-funded after the grant expires. For that reason our channel will focus on general topics, because we rely on revenue from advertising as well.” According to Director Cristina Gutu, Chiril Lucinschi’s withdrawal from politics is “a generous gesture, made to allow this project to be realized.”

“I talked with my children, Petru and Alexandra, who currently are the founders of TV7, and we agreed to contribute to this project and we decided to give 75% of the stake in TV 7 to this association of journalists,” Chiril Lucinschi said at the briefing.

Please note that to date the channel’s owners, Alexandra Lucinshi and Petru Lucinschi, own 100% of shares.