ProTV criticizes regulator for putting its frequency on tender
The Audio Visual Council (CCA), the Moldovan media regulator, has announced a tender for four frequencies held by the private opposition-leaning ProTV Chisinau channel in Chisinau, Balti, Orhei and Cahul, ProTV Chisinau reported on 1 June.
The channel showed ProTV lawyer Vlad Rosca as saying that the decision was ungrounded because "Article 23 of the Broadcasting Code stipulated that tenders could be announced only for free frequencies". Rosca said that ProTV would sue the CCA decision in court.
ProTV also said it failed to get in touch with CCA chairman Gheorghe Gorincioi to comment on the above decision.
ProTV recalled that in November 2008, a month before its licence was due to expire, it asked the CCA to automatically extend its licence. However, the CCA refused to do so, saying that the new Broadcasting Code did not provide for automatic extension of licences. Later, the CCA announced a moratorium on the issuance of broadcast licences until the 5 April parliamentary election.
ProTV also said that the CCA decision has already been condemned by the opposition Liberal Party. "This is a prove that the CCA is politically subordinated to the ruling Communist party which is trying to close down an independent TV channel which is inconvenient to the Communist Party," the Liberal Party said in a statement for the media. The party asked the CCA to review its decision, describing it as illegal and "capable of causing social tension".
Contacted by ProTV Chisinau, Communist MP and former presidential aide Marc Tcaciuc rejected the Liberal Party's accusations. Tcaciuc said he did not even know that a tender for ProTV frequencies had been announced, ProTV added.
ProTV (Moldova)
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