ACC wants cable providers to broadcast more channels in official language

The Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC) rejected on Tuesday, January 30, the list of channels submitted by two cable TV operators, on the grounds that they contained few channels that broadcast in the official language. As such, ACC declined to approve the list of channels for the cable retransmission proposed by “AMT” Ltd (Chisinau) and ‘Helis-97” Ltd (Telenesti). ACC member Vlad Turcanu says that once Moldova enjoys thematic channels in foreign languages, it would be fair that we find their equivalents in the language the majority population speaks. “Moldova declared itself pro-European, this is why we should have channels from EU countries, too”, he added. Also on Tuesday, ACC has issued the authorisation for retransmission to “Albasat” Ltd in 33 villages in Nisporeni raion and amended the terms for broadcasting licences issuance for a number of cable TV agents. The Council has also approved modifications to the content of programmes for the “STS” TV channel, which provides for a more programmes in the official language. At the same time, ACC rejected the modifications requested by “Vzrosloe radio Shanson” radio, urging the station to improve the content of programmes. The Broadcasting Code stipulates that the volume of the own and domestic production of informative and analytical nature broadcast in the official language shall make up not less than 70% as of January 1, 2007.