Armenian Public Television
Encyclopedia
Public Television of Armenia , is Armenia
's public television
station that began transmissions in 1956.
of Armenia, the first programme of Armenian television was transmitted.
The official opening of the Armenian television took place on February 9, 1957 as regular programmes began to air. Later that year on August 6, 1957 the first news programme was transmitted, titled the News of the Week. At first the news programme was not periodical, but by February, 1958 the news programme became periodical, which resulted in the creation of the news editorial office.
On October 13, 1957 the State Committee on Radio and Television Programmes of the Council of Ministers of the Armenian SSR
was formed. According to the decree of the USSR Supreme Soviet issued in December, 1970, The State Committee on Radio transmission
and Television was renamed to the All-Union Republican State Committee on Television and Radio Transmission.
In March 1973 the television station began its preparations for the changeover to transmissions in colour. Engineer
s for a colour mobile station, TV production
laboratory, video recording
units were obtained to begin this process. On May 1, 1973 the station made its first colour transmission from Lenin Square for the May Day
Parade
. Initially, the colour programmrs were transmitted only from the mobile station, from the large celebrations, concerts, sport events of the country. Starting from 1978 about 50 percent of the programmes of the first and the second Armenian channels were in colour. Starting in August, 1973, the first video recordings were broadcast, which made 70 percent of the programmes in 1978.
In November 1977 a new 311.7 metre high (1,013 ft) television tower
was erected, as well as "Orbita-2" - a space communication station, which transferred the second programme of the Central Television from Moscow
. In 1978 it became possible to see also the fourth channel of the Central Television in Armenia.
, appointed Henrik Hovhannisyan, a non-communist, to be the head of the State Department of Television and Radio programmes. He started the reformation of the Armenian television, both in terms of content and structure. Those changes were called to comply with the situation of the Kharabagh Freedom movement, and the breakdown of USSR.
Armenia declared its independence on September 21, 1991. A month later, the president of the country signed the RA Law "On Mass Media". For the first time in Armenia the information system had an opportunity to develop in a free and favourable environment. The freedom of speech
and purely national propaganda
were predominant for the Armenian television.
The economic crisis of the country seriously influenced the functioning of the National television. Capacity were significantly cut and the quantity of viewers decreased. According to the data of November-December 1993, the statistical TV audience was 27.4%.
In November 1996 the 40th anniversary of the Armenian television was celebrated with festivities. The national television continued to preserve with great difficulty what has been created during the former years. The bulk of the programs were entertainment and comedy programs.
In 1996 the second channel of the Armenian television separated and became a separate program. Robert Mavisakalyan was appointed director of Nork television. Within a short period of time "Nork" was able to attract the attention of the bulk of the audience.
According to the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Television and Radio" in force from 2000, the Public television shall start broadcasting all of its programs, films in Armenian starting from January 1, 2005. The public television started working on the process of translating programmes into Armenian even before the law was adopted. A translation studio equipped with special acoustic and film cutting equipment was created.
New roads and prospects opened for the Armenian Public Television in 2005. The Armenian Public Television and Radio were recognized full and equal members of the European Broadcasting Union
at the 56th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union held in Dubrovnik
on July 7 and July 8. Becoming an Active Member of the European Broadcasting Union, Armenia gained the right to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, which during the 50 years had already become a favorite event for the Europeans.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
's public television
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
station that began transmissions in 1956.
Early years
Armenia Public Television dates back to September 5, 1955 when the USSR Council of Ministers made the decision to construct 27 programme centres and five transmission stations in the Union Republics. On 29 November 1956, the date of SovietizationSovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
of Armenia, the first programme of Armenian television was transmitted.
The official opening of the Armenian television took place on February 9, 1957 as regular programmes began to air. Later that year on August 6, 1957 the first news programme was transmitted, titled the News of the Week. At first the news programme was not periodical, but by February, 1958 the news programme became periodical, which resulted in the creation of the news editorial office.
On October 13, 1957 the State Committee on Radio and Television Programmes of the Council of Ministers of the Armenian SSR
Armenian SSR
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
was formed. According to the decree of the USSR Supreme Soviet issued in December, 1970, The State Committee on Radio transmission
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
and Television was renamed to the All-Union Republican State Committee on Television and Radio Transmission.
In March 1973 the television station began its preparations for the changeover to transmissions in colour. Engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s for a colour mobile station, TV production
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
laboratory, video recording
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
units were obtained to begin this process. On May 1, 1973 the station made its first colour transmission from Lenin Square for the May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
Parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
. Initially, the colour programmrs were transmitted only from the mobile station, from the large celebrations, concerts, sport events of the country. Starting from 1978 about 50 percent of the programmes of the first and the second Armenian channels were in colour. Starting in August, 1973, the first video recordings were broadcast, which made 70 percent of the programmes in 1978.
In November 1977 a new 311.7 metre high (1,013 ft) television tower
Radio masts and towers
Radio masts and towers are, typically, tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. They are among the tallest man-made structures...
was erected, as well as "Orbita-2" - a space communication station, which transferred the second programme of the Central Television from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. In 1978 it became possible to see also the fourth channel of the Central Television in Armenia.
1990 to today
As political powers began changing in 1990, the then prime minister, Vazgen ManukyanVazgen Manukyan
Vazgen Manukyan was Prime Minister of Armenia from 1990 to 1991. From 1992 to 1993 Manukyan was acting Minister of Defense....
, appointed Henrik Hovhannisyan, a non-communist, to be the head of the State Department of Television and Radio programmes. He started the reformation of the Armenian television, both in terms of content and structure. Those changes were called to comply with the situation of the Kharabagh Freedom movement, and the breakdown of USSR.
Armenia declared its independence on September 21, 1991. A month later, the president of the country signed the RA Law "On Mass Media". For the first time in Armenia the information system had an opportunity to develop in a free and favourable environment. The freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
and purely national propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
were predominant for the Armenian television.
The economic crisis of the country seriously influenced the functioning of the National television. Capacity were significantly cut and the quantity of viewers decreased. According to the data of November-December 1993, the statistical TV audience was 27.4%.
In November 1996 the 40th anniversary of the Armenian television was celebrated with festivities. The national television continued to preserve with great difficulty what has been created during the former years. The bulk of the programs were entertainment and comedy programs.
In 1996 the second channel of the Armenian television separated and became a separate program. Robert Mavisakalyan was appointed director of Nork television. Within a short period of time "Nork" was able to attract the attention of the bulk of the audience.
According to the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Television and Radio" in force from 2000, the Public television shall start broadcasting all of its programs, films in Armenian starting from January 1, 2005. The public television started working on the process of translating programmes into Armenian even before the law was adopted. A translation studio equipped with special acoustic and film cutting equipment was created.
New roads and prospects opened for the Armenian Public Television in 2005. The Armenian Public Television and Radio were recognized full and equal members of the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
at the 56th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union held in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
on July 7 and July 8. Becoming an Active Member of the European Broadcasting Union, Armenia gained the right to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, which during the 50 years had already become a favorite event for the Europeans.