A press conference has been held on the separation of ATV International TV channel from Azad Azerbaijan Television (ATV) and its operation with a different name under another organization.
ATV president Vugar Garadaghli said that ATV was established in 2009 and operated in accordance with statehood during this period. However, there were problems in the use of modern technology. It was difficult to solve these problems, because the TV channel doesn’t operate basing on advertising revenues. In this case, it was decided to sell ATV International. According to him, the proposals on the sale of the TV were estimated by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR): “From now on ATV International will operate under SOCAR Media Public Union.”
SOCAR vice-president Khalig Mammadov said that SOCAR is implementing several projects: “Our company is implementing international projects not only in the country, but also in a number of countries. For this reason, we have decided the process needs media support. So, we decided to buy ATV International. SOCAR Media Public Union has no obligations before the SOCAR. It will simply function as a social project,” he said.
He noted that 10 percent of the programs will be in Azerbaijani, 90 percent in the languages of the countries of the region.
“The TV channel will be provided with modern technologies and become the leading television of the region. This channel will not only represent SOCAR’s business interests, but also promote the state policy,” he said.
Mammadov said the channel is a non-commercial organization, its budget will be formed through the grants. The director of the TV channel will be journalist Azer Khalilov.
Director of ATV International TV channel Azer Khalilov said ATV International will be renamed as CBC (Caspian Broadcasting Company). The channel will attach great importance to the national idea, ideology of tolerance and promote Azerbaijan in the world. Khalilov said currently programs are available in Persian, Armenian, Russian and English, this process will be continued.
APA