VoA TV program to be taken off air
Azerbaijan`s state-run television and radio
broadcaster, AzTV, will halt the airing of Voice of America`s (VoA)
News Flash television program. The AzTV leadership has sent
notification to the head of VoA`s Broadcasting Board of Governors.
News Flash will be taken off the air by December 31.
The reasons for the halt were explained in a letter written by the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC), Azerbaijan`s broadcasting regulator, which says that according to national laws, each TV and radio broadcaster is allowed to air only its own programs on the frequency it was granted by the state.
The NTRC chairman, Nushiravan Maharramli, in turn, played down US Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer`s recent statement that the broadcasts of foreign radio stations on Azerbaijani airwaves are likely to be continued in 2009.
"The matter will be solved within the frames of Azerbaijan`s legislation," Maharramli added.
Kramer told a news conference in Baku last Wednesday that he discussed the airing of Western radio stations in the country with President Ilham Aliyev and "got the impression, after the discussions, that the broadcasts will not be discontinued."
The NTRC chairman said earlier that it would only be possible to listen to VoA, Radio Liberty and BBC on satellite, cable or internet networks next year.
The reasons for the halt were explained in a letter written by the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC), Azerbaijan`s broadcasting regulator, which says that according to national laws, each TV and radio broadcaster is allowed to air only its own programs on the frequency it was granted by the state.
The NTRC chairman, Nushiravan Maharramli, in turn, played down US Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer`s recent statement that the broadcasts of foreign radio stations on Azerbaijani airwaves are likely to be continued in 2009.
"The matter will be solved within the frames of Azerbaijan`s legislation," Maharramli added.
Kramer told a news conference in Baku last Wednesday that he discussed the airing of Western radio stations in the country with President Ilham Aliyev and "got the impression, after the discussions, that the broadcasts will not be discontinued."
The NTRC chairman said earlier that it would only be possible to listen to VoA, Radio Liberty and BBC on satellite, cable or internet networks next year.
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