National TV, Radio looking to extend broadcasting time

The Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) on Tuesday, December 4, approved a development and reorganisation concept of the Teleradio-Moldova Company (TRM), which plans to extend the broadcasting time for the national TV and radio stations, make personnel changes, and modernise equipment. According to the Concept presented by Moldova 1’s director Adela Raileanu, the national TV channel will broadcast 18 hours a day and the national radio station will air without interruption. In addition, the Company intends to reopen Luceafarul radio station. Raileanu said all the tests have been already performed for Luceafarul and the launch date will be made public soon. As concerns personnel changes, the Company plans to axe 20 percent of jobs. Raileanu argued that this measure will not affect in any way the Company’s performance, as the layoffs will mainly touch vacant posts. Several BCC members suggested rejecting the document, arguing that the objectives are unachievable under the current circumstances and that the document was poorly prepared. The BCC members who defended the Concept praised the Company for its tendency to restructure itself and to improve the quality of its programmes. The Concept was approved with the vote of five to four.