NIT channel remains without license

The private TV channel NIT was deprived of license. A decision to this effect was taken by the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) in a meeting on April 5, Info-Prim Neo reports. Seven members voted in favor of withdrawing the license. Only Corneliu Mihalache voted against and left the meeting hall in protest. The decision was made based on a report on the monitoring of the newscasts of the NIT. According to Council member Nicolae Damaschin, the TV channel used different techniques to manipulate the people and openly favored one political party. “The NIT openly urges the viewers to take part in the protests against the current administration, for which most of the people voted. Thus, this is incitement to hatred between people,” he stated. Corneliu Mihalache said the BCC has an irresponsible position. “If the Council continues to penalize the NIT, this will be considered attack on the freedom of expression and limitation of the rights of the people who watch this channel as it is the only one in the country that has a different position,” he said The decision on the withdrawal of the license will take effect when it is published in the Official Gazette. The BCC monitored the news programs of other TV channels as well. The public channel Moldova 1 was warned publicly for slightly favoring the current government and presenting the opposition party is a slightly negative light.