BCC Denies the Accusations Made by “Jurnal TV”: “Other Broadcasters Had Even Stronger Sanctions”

The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) categorically denies the accusations of biased and discriminatory attitude towards “Jurnal TV” station and the allegations that it intends to withdraw the broadcasting license of this media outlet. The response came shortly after “Jurnal TV” accused this regulatory authority of hostile attitude towards it, grounding its accusations on the fact that it was repeatedly subject to sanctions that are not stipulated by the legislation in force.

 On 19^th of January, the BCC sent to a number of embassies and NGO-s of the country a statement related to the situation of “Jurnal TV”. The BCC “disapproves the allegations and considers the accusation of intention to withdraw the broadcasting license as a false insinuation”. The BCC hopes that a solution to the problematic situation of “Jurnal TV” will be found as soon as possible, and the TV station will return to the broadcast programming approved by the Council. With regard to the sanctions applied during the election period, the BCC points out that there were many speculations concerning this matter that was “transferred on a political ground”: in fact, a number of broadcasters were subject to sanctions, certain penalties being even harsher, than those of “Jurnal TV”.

Let us remember that Jurnal Trust Media issued on 12^th of January a statement announcing that its broadcast programming was going to change, because of a range of problems. “We would like to point out, in particular, the biased and discriminatory attitude towards “Jurnal TV” displayed by the Broadcasting Coordinating Council, the only State authority that has the direct responsibility to promote and defend the national interests in the broadcasting field. Contrarily to its tasks, the BCC has repeatedly shown a hostile attitude towards our TV station, imposing multiple penalties, most of which were beyond the legal framework. At the same time, the lack of a fair and independent judiciary undermined all our attempts to get justice in the courts in our country”, the statement reads.

Contacted by Media Azi, the media expert, Ion Bunduchi, stated that, apparently, the BCC will frequently have to make various “clarifications” - and it risks to make them very often in a clumsy way. “The BCC does not miss any opportunity to write “as the guarantor of the public interest in the broadcasting field”. Well, when has the BCC really been such a guarantor?! And if it really has been and still is, then why the largest broadcasters are politically affiliated? Is there still any place for the public interest?! The BCC remains a guarantor just on paper ... If the BCC has an institutional memory - and it must have - then it should acknowledge its liability for the distortion of the broadcasting field. And, when appropriate, it has to come up with plausible explanations for us, the citizens, the exclusive holders of the public interest, not with attempts to get away with any kind of disputes with any broadcaster”, Ion Bunduchi said.

“As far as the situation of “Jurnal TV” is concerned, I would like to believe that it is just a matter of “relationship between two companies, which is beyond the competence of the BCC”. But one question still does not leave me alone: why now, if, as they say, their relationship was not so elegant so far either? Moreover, I remember the destiny of “Antena C”. What the prosecution’s office did not manage to do at the time to the municipal radio station, the BCC managed (to temporarily suspend the broadcasting – until, so to speak, the required documents for becoming a legal entity are done). At the time, the “temporary” suspension lasted for 70 days ... And the history has the imprudence to repeat itself.”, the media expert added.