The head of the Audiovisual Council, Liliana Vitu, commented on Rlive TV’s Rezoomat program about the decision of TV and radio stations not to cover the presidential elections this fall or the referendum.
“I can understand a thematic channel for children, travel diaries, ethnic music, or folklore, but I am overwhelmed by the situation where radio stations that have obtained their frequency in Chisinau with great difficulty choose not to cover the elections. Stations that came from other regions and expanded their operations promised us when we granted them the frequency that they would provide coverage, and now they choose not to.
I am distressed that national channels, prominent in distributors’ offerings, choose not to provide coverage. I wonder whether this is due to the regulatory framework, even though it has always been based on the same principles of fairness, equality, and impartiality. The Electoral Code has not introduced any entirely new principles. Perhaps some have a business model that does not align with public interest. Their model seems to profit from advertising by retransmitting programs or movies rather than focusing on the consumer. On October 20, people will wake up confused by the Russian series and will not know what is happening in their own country,” said Liliana Vitu.
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Note that by the deadline for submitting declarations or notifications regarding the presidential elections and the constitutional referendum on October 20, 2024, the Audiovisual Council (AC) received 64 notices from 73 audiovisual media services about their decision not to cover the elections this fall.
Audiovisual media service providers must publish a notice on their official website informing the public about their decision not to cover the elections and the reason for their decision. They must place the notice in a visible location within 24 hours of the Audiovisual Council’s decision and keep it there until the election day.
In the meeting on August 16, the members of the AC will review the editorial policy statements submitted by audiovisual media services that commit to covering the elections.