BCC grants license for channel used by Romanian Television to newly-created TV station

The Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) on Thursday, September 27, granted license for the use of the state-owned channel no.2, which currently relays the programmes of TVR1, to the recently founded TV channel “2 Plus”. The decision was backed by 5 out of 8 BCC members attending. The founder of the new channel is the British company “Telefe M International” Ltd. The director of the channel, Razvan Paveliu, has stated that the founder pledges to continue broadcasting TVR programmes, at a 70 percent rate, after a new agreement is signed with the Romanian Television Corporation (SRTV). The capital of the company amounts to $500,000, or about 5 million lei, of which 1 million have been already transferred to Moldova. “Telefe M International” said it would pay off the debt owed to Radiocommunication State Enterprise for the retransmission services which the Romanian Television stopped paying for in mid-June. “2 Plus” will invest in personnel that will get training abroad, and in equipment, with €175,000 already invested for that purpose. The news department will fly a helicopter which will help the channel achieve a nationwide coverage of the events, Razvan Paveliu added. “2 Plus” got the votes of Corneliu Mihalache, Valeriu Frumusachi, Gheorghe Gorincioi, Valeriu Soltan and Carmelia Albu. They said the interest of the television viewers was what they took into consideration when voting, and added that if BCC hadn’t put up for contest the channel no.2, Radiocommunication would have disrupted retransmission of TVR programmes, as confirmed by the representatives of the enterprise. Valeriu Soltan said he opted for a national broadcaster in the interest of the local businesses, which will have the opportunity to place ads on a new channel with national coverage. Against the decision were Ruslan Plesca, Ludmila Vasilache and Vlad Turcanu. The latter termed the decision as an abuse and violation of the legislation. According to Turcanu, CCA shouldn’t have interfered in a dispute between two legal entities – SRTV and Radiocommunication State Enterprise. SRTV holds a licence that is valid until 2011 and which is guaranteed by national laws. Vlad Turcanu suggested excluding the channel no.2 from the contest also because Andrei Nemteanu, Radiocommunication’s representative attending the meeting, alleged he knew nothing about a letter sent by the Romanian authorities that confirms the availability to pay the debts and further fund the retransmission of TVR programmes. Two bidders applied for the channel no.2. Cotidian SA (TVR Moldova station) didn’t gain any vote.