“Broadcasting of the Russian TV company RTR Planet on the territory of Tajikistan will not be resumed”. – This is the official statement made by the Tajik State TV Broadcasting Committee under the government.
RTR disappeared from the Tajik air one month ago. Both Tajik and Russian officials were stating that they are eager to resume broadcasting – but only after resolving of some organizational problems. The Tajik side complained that RTR has failed to sign a new agreement, and declared new prices for rebroadcasting services since all tariffs have essentially increased over the last couple of years.
On 3 April, Samad Khikmatov, deputy chairman of the Tajik Broadcasting Committee told the media that the decision is irreversible. “No further negotiations will be held with the Russian side, and the frequency [previously used by RTR] will be given to one of the local TV companies”. Khikmatov also added that this measure has no political background.
Tajik officials say that the Russian broadcasters have had enough time to resolve all technical and financial issues. “We sent letters addressed to the secretary general of the Russian State Radio and TV Company [RTR], asking to support our suggestions [on the increase of rebroadcasting tariffs]”, — said Khikmatov. The last official letter was sent on 17 February, but ever since, the Tajik side has received no answer. Teleradiocom, the State Broadcasting Committee’s technical facility complained that during 2008, its losses amounted to 100 thousand Somoni due to untimely payments for rebroadcasting and fluctuations of the Russian currency rates.
Commenting on that, Kamil Magomedov, press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Tajikistan said that on 3 March the RTR administration sent an official guarantee letter stating that it is ready to consider the 50-percent increase of the tariff. Moreover, RTR is ready to pay off the arrears for February and March right after the signing of a new agreement. The RTR representatives were ready to fly to Dushanbe at any time convenient for the Tajik counterparts, but they’ve had no response from them.
“The termination of RTR’s rebroadcasting cannot be seen as non-political”, — says Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT). — “Logically, it is seen as a limitation of access to alternative sources of information by the Tajik authorities. At the same time, the Russian side could have agreed with the Tajik requirements on the tariff increase”. Although RTR is a State structure, its broadcasting includes essential blocks of commercial advertisement, and Tajikistan is also seen as a “commercial space”.
Konstantin Parshin, NANSMIT
Источник: NANSMIT