TV Moldova International channel has been launched

“Teleradio-Moldova” Company (TRM) has launched the TV Moldova International, which is the first satellite channel in Moldova with international coverage. Head of TRM Ilie Telescu, told Wednesday a press conference that the attempt to launch the TV Moldova International channel has been made back in 2003, but it did not find any follow-ups. As he says, this channel’s mission and goal is to cover international information space, to promote Moldova’s image, Moldovan cultural and spiritual values; to create an information bridge between Moldova and co-nationals living abroad. Telescu is hopeful that this channel will find a place in the heart of the foreign viewers that want to learn about Moldova. Ludmila Barba, director of TV Moldova International Department said that at the first stage the channel will broadcast a 2 hour programme, which will be rerun 12 times a day, 7 days a week. This two-hour broadcast will comprise a news bulletin and certain programmes. Of them, 20-30% will be of own production, while the rest will be Moldova 1’s production. The broadcasting will be operated by the French Company EUTELSAT for EUR 90,000 annually. The Company will also pay EUR 3,500 per month to “Radiocomunicatii” SE, which will transmit the signal to the satellite. The Government has allocated 1 million lei in this regard, while the rest of expenses will be covered by the TRM’s budget (set at 51 million lei for this year). The media coverage includes the Western and Eastern Europe, western Russia, northern Africa and Madagascar, as well as several states in the Near East. TRM has founded Radio-Moldova International in 1992. At present it can be listened to over the Internet. As Telescu says, the broadcasting by air is expensive and not very efficient.