ACC fined Antena C for not respecting the old broadcasting schedule but approved the new one

The Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC) fined on Monday, February 12, “Antena C” radio station for not respecting an earlier decision of the Council, but, at the same time, it has approved the new broadcasting schedule presented by the new administration. One week ago, ACC obliged the radio station to broadcast in compliance with the old broadcasting schedule and publicly warned the station because it started to broadcast on the basis of another schedule without the regulation authority’s consent. “Antena C” has disputed ACC decision and did not comply with it. ACC rejected on Monday the radio station’s remonstrance, qualifying it as groundless, the radio station being fined 100 minimum salaries for not respecting the prior decision. The Councils’ members did not specify the size of the fine, explaining that ACC enforces the Code’s provisions, according to which the fines are being measured in minimum salaries. Five of eight members of ACC have voted for a fine of 100 minimum salaries, while another three have voted for a fine of 300 minimum salaries. ACC has discussed the broadcasting schedule suggested by the administration at the same session. The radio station’s director Veaceslav Satnic stated that “it is impossible to work according to the old broadcasting schedule, because the product that was broadcasted was not an objective, equidistant one, and the opinion pluralism was not respected”. As he sates, also the programmes included in the broadcasting schedule “were not profitable, did not cover the station’s expenses, and many commercial programmes were cheaper than their real price”. The staffers have refuted Satnic’s allegations of bias, asking him for evidence. In retort, the director said he felt this “on his own skin”. ACC members Vlad Turcanu and Valeriu Frumusachi, have pleaded against the new broadcasting schedule’s approval. Turcanu stated it is illogical to mark this broadcasting schedule, once the radio station violated ACC’s decisions twice in the last week. In turn, Frumusachi said it is not known who and when will present the programmes suggested in the new broadcasting schedule, when the programme contest will be announced etc. As ACC head Corneliu Mihalache says, it is evident that under these conditions, the conflict between the administration and employees will continue. If the Council would approve the new broadcasting schedule and allow the administration to work in a normal regime, it would make it possible for the radio station to broadcast, he stated. Five of eight members of ACC have voted for the new broadcasting schedule.