ACC obliges Antena C to broadcast according to present broadcasting schedule

The Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC) obliged on Wednesday, February 7, the radio station “Antena C” to broadcast in accordance with the present schedule of programmes and warned the radio station publicly, because it modified the broadcasting schedule without the consent of the regulation authority. ACC convened on Wednesday to examine the situation created at “Antena C”. The Council’s chairman stated that he was informed about the modification of the broadcasting schedule, but the radio station didn’t receive ACC’s authorisation, which is an inadmissible fact. The station’s director Veaceslav Satnic said that the old broadcasting schedule was not even respected by the journalists working at the station, the opinion pluralism was not always taken into account and recently the station encountered some technical problems, due to which it can no longer abide by the old broadcasting schedule. Satnic submitted to ACC a new broadcasting schedule, but when asked why the broadcasting schedule was modified without the Council’s consent, he stated that the Law does not clearly stipulated if he needs the ACC’s approval. On the other hand, the radio station’s journalists denied the allegations brought by Sâtnic, saying that the programme schedule was observed. At the same time, they stated that Antena C broadcasts only news bulletins and music at present. Also, the employees mentioned that the new administration disconnected the computers from the Internet, interdicted the employees’ access to the second floor, crowding over 30 persons in only 2 or 3 offices. ACC member Valeriu Frumusachi claimed the lack of any argument on the part of the manager in favour of modifying the programme schedule and suggested to immediately return to the present broadcasting schedule. His suggestion was supported during the discussions by a number of members of the Council. Some of them mentioned that the new broadcasting schedule lacks the concept of programmes, and Constantin Rotaru qualified it as “illegible”. On the other hand, Corneliu Mihalache suggested approving the new broadcasting schedule, otherwise the internal conflict will continue. The proposal to oblige the radio station to return to the present broadcasting schedule was backed by 5 out of 9 ACC members, while Mihalache’s proposal was voted by 3 members of the Audiovisual Coordinating Council.