The only Armenian children’s TV channel, Ayrenik-TV (homeland), will
stop broadcasting on January 21 due to new licensing conditions for
digital broadcasting, News Armenia reports.
Ayrenik-1 (part of Grand Holding) did not file a request for a
frequency to the State Commission for TV and Radio.
The channel is expected to merge with the AP channel, part of Grand Holding.
The channel started broadcasting in 2001, together with all the other
companies of Grand Holding, owned by Grant Vardanyan. Uniting with AP
will provide a wider range of shows and audiences.
All the favorite shows and characters from Ayrenik-1 will stay, moving to AP.
Ayrenik-1 did not run any advertising. Grand Holding spent millions of
dollars on its support.
The channel broadcasts fairy tales, cartoons and children’s films, and
makes sports, science and education programmes. The channel promotes
high-quality programming and excludes violence.
The Commission for Regulating Social Services in Armenia said the
license given in 2009 was invalid. The decision will come into force
on January 21, 2011.
Opposition channels A1+ and ALM and the regional opposition channel
Gala in Gyumri did not win the contest for digital broadcasting rights
in December.
Armenia will switch to digital TV and radio broadcasting. A state
digital broadcasting network is due to be established. Yerevan will
have 18 TV channels and 12 radio stations with digital broadcasting,
with the number of regional TV channels and radio stations set at 9
and 4 respectively.
