Televiziunea Româna
Encyclopedia
Televiziunea Română (televiziˈune̯a roˈmɨnə), more commonly referred to as TVR teveˈre, is the short name for Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune (Romanian Television Corporation); acronym: SRTV. SRTV is the national state-owned public service television broadcaster of Romania
. It operates six channels: TVR1, TVR2, TVR3
, TVR Cultural
, TVR Info
, TVRi
and TVR HD
, along with six regional studios in Bucharest
, Cluj-Napoca
, Iaşi
, Timişoara
, Craiova
and Târgu Mureş
. Of the regional studios of TVR ("studiouri teritoriale") only TVR Cluj broadcasts independently (terrestrial and via cable) all over Transylvania
. The other broadcast usually at the same time on TVR2 and sometimes on TVR1.
TVR1 has a total national coverage of 99.8% and TVR2 has 91% coverage — all of the other channels and networks cover only densely populated areas. Even though it does not have the largest audience, (Pro TV
and Antena 1, two private networks, consistently get higher ratings in the urban market segment), it offers a wider variety of services, including webcasts and international viewing.
and had its first broadcast on December 31 from a little building (a deserted cinema studio) on Molière Street no. 2.
A second channel, TVR2, was created in 1968 (at that time it was simply called "Programul 2", the second channel and the old TVR became the first channel, "Programul 1"). TVR2 was suspended from 1985, due to the "energy saving programme" initiated by Nicolae Ceauşescu
and TVR1 became TVR again, becoming the sole television station in Romania until the fall of communist in 1989.
In 1983 TVR introduced color television. Although the rest of the Eastern Bloc
countries adopted the Soviet-backed SECAM
system, TVR chose to implement the PAL
system.
Due to the same "energy saving programme" between 1985 and 1989, the TVR schedule was severely limited to only about two hours per day, between 20:00 and 22:00, most of which were dedicated to the cult of personalities
of Nicolae Ceauşescu
and his wife Elena
; with an exception on Saturdays, from 13:00 to 15:00 and 19:00 to 22:30 and Sundays (the same program as Saturdays, but with children's programs between 11:30 and 12:30). The two hours of programming were half propaganda and half general entertainment:
Later, the programs increased to three hours per day during the workweek (from 19:00 to 22:00).
, TVR was an important focal point of the events. Rebels occupied the TVR building, in the afternoon of December 22 and announced that the Ceauşescus had fled. TVR changed its name to "Televiziunea Română Liberă" (TVRL), "Free Romanian Television". On February 17, 1990, TVR2 resumed broadcasting and TVRL became TVR1.
But TVR would remain a propaganda instrument in the hands of the newly created National Salvation Front (FSN), made up mostly of former second-rank Communists. FSN used TVRL, by far the most widely penetrating information source at that time in Romania, to discredit protesters who were demanding a Communist-free government, denigrating them as "fascists". This culminated with the June 1990 riots in central Bucharest
, crushed by the miners called in by president Ion Iliescu
. After the riots ended, Iliescu was shown on TV congratulating the miners for "restoring law and order". A little while later, following protests from civil society, TVRL abandoned the "L", the designation "Free" (which had become a laughing stock) and reverted to its previous name of TVR.
After 1990, lacking any strategy, TVR fell into a deep crisis of identity. TVR changed its identity several times without any particular reason. The crisis intensified after 1996.
On January 1, 1993, TVR, as a part of Radioteleviziunea Româna (RTVR), was admitted as a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union
.
In 1995, TVRi
was launched on December 1, Great Union Day, the national holiday. In 1998, TVR International was renamed "TV Romania International", with a completely different identity.
In 2001, TVR2 changed its identity, logo and presentation for the fourth time. The same year, after three "rebrandings", TVR1 became "TV Romania 1". The new "Romania 1" changed its identity, including the channel logo, three times in only two years.
In 2002, TVR Cultural
was launched.
In 2003, the management started a controversial rebranding (a new identity was created by the British agency, English & Pockett). On June 11, 2004, all channels were renamed "TVR" and received the same identity.
In October 2007, during its prime-time newscast, TVR aired a video showing Agriculture Minister
Decebal Traian Remeş
allegedly taking a bribe. In the aftermath, Prime Minister
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
criticised TVR for carrying out the minister's "public execution", and a heated debate that showed TVR's weakness in defending its independence ensued. The station's own director called the airing incorrect and illegal because it violated the presumption of innocence, while media organisations and the broadcast regulator defended the legitimacy of the airing, which they said served the public interest. Politicians issued intense attacks against TVR, which reorganised its news department into two divisions. One of its most critical journalists, Rodica Culcer, was placed in charge of supervising both divisions, which actually reduced her decision-making; reassignment has been a typical way through which Romanian governments reduce the power of non-loyal individuals, as more overt measures may have attracted charges of censorship. Other independent journalists were moved to afternoon or night newscasts.
On June 1, 2008, TVR HD
started broadcasting in HD. Euro 2008 and the 2008 Summer Olympics were transmitted in HD.
On October 10, 2008, TVR 3 was launched. This is a channel dedicated to local programming, airing shows and news produced in the various regions of Romania.
On December 31, 2008, TVR Info
, a "must-carry" channel for all cable operators, was launched. The channel broadcasts traffic information, live feed from cameras in various cities of Romania and also news.
, TVR Cultural
, TVR Info
, TVRi
, and TVR HD
. TVRi
is designed for the Romanians
living outside Romania
, the "i" coming from International ("Internaţional" in the Romanian language
).
It also has six regional TV channels or "studios" ("studiouri teritoriale"): TVR Bucureşti
, TVR Cluj
, TVR Craiova
, TVR Iaşi
, TVR Târgu-Mureş and TVR Timişoara
.
. The Romanian broadcaster has been chosen by the European Broadcasting Union
(EBU), for being the organizer of the 4th edition of the contest. For the first time, Romania has been the host of such an event and a show produced by TVR broadcasted live all over Europe, in the member states of the EBU.
tax mandatory for all holders of TV sets and also from advertising. This has been deemed unfair competition by the commercial TV stations, which must rely exclusively on revenue from advertisement and cable operators. Proposals have been made to outlaw advertising on public TV channels.
TVR's board is appointed by the government and the parliament. In its post-Communist history, TVR has been almost constantly suspected of submitting to government control and censorship.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It operates six channels: TVR1, TVR2, TVR3
TVR3
TVR3 is the sixth channel of the Romanian public broadcaster, launched on 10 October 2008.It is a generalist channel, centered on reflecting regional events. It will use reports from all of its territorial studios...
, TVR Cultural
TVR Cultural
TVR Cultural is the cultural channel of Romania's government-funded television network Televiziunea Română. It provides cultural news, documentaries about the arts, as well as various shows, musicals and theatrical pieces.-References:*...
, TVR Info
TVR Info
TVR Info is a niche TV channel that broadcasts 24/7 mainly news, utility information, and live traffic images from the major cities through the country. It is the second niche channel of the public TV broadcaster, after TVR Cultural....
, TVRi
TVRI
Televisi Republik Indonesia Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) (formerly known as Televisi Indonesia (Indonesian Television in English) and Radio Indonesia (Indonesian Radio in English) is a state-owned television station, the oldest television station in...
and TVR HD
TVR HD
TVR HD is a high-definition version of the Romanian public broadcasting channel TVR. The channel broadcasted Euro 2008 and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in high definition...
, along with six regional studios in Bucharest
TVR Bucuresti
TVR Bucureşti is the state-owned regional TV station available in Muntenia, broadcasting since 19 March 2007. Its headquarters are in Bucharest....
, Cluj-Napoca
TVR Cluj
TVR Cluj is public regional TV station available in Transylvania and Maramureş. It is the first regional branch of the Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune , broadcasting since 3 January 1990...
, Iaşi
TVR Iasi
TVR Iaşi is one of the six regional stations of - the Romanian National Television Station. Its headquarters are in Iaşi. TVR Iaşi programmes are broadcast in the Moldova Region of Romania, covering all eight departments in the north-eastern part of the country...
, Timişoara
TVR Timisoara
TVR Timişoara is one of the six regional branches of the Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune . On air since 17 October 1994 from a studio in Cluj, which was built in 1990 and from one in Iaşi that began broadcasting in 1991. Its initial airing schedule had a weekly duration of 35 minutes, whereas by...
, Craiova
TVR Craiova
TVR Craiova is one of the six regional branches of the Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune . It was established on May 16, 1996, and began broadcasting on December 1, 1998, with a live transmission from the Mihai Viteazul Square in Craiova....
and Târgu Mureş
TVR Târgu Mureş
TVR Târgu Mureş is one of the six regional branches of the Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune . It began broadcasting on 6 May 2008, in Târgu Mureş. TVR Târgu Mureş programmes are broadcast in Transylvania region of Romania, covering five counties in the central part of the country.TVR Târgu Mureş...
. Of the regional studios of TVR ("studiouri teritoriale") only TVR Cluj broadcasts independently (terrestrial and via cable) all over Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
. The other broadcast usually at the same time on TVR2 and sometimes on TVR1.
TVR1 has a total national coverage of 99.8% and TVR2 has 91% coverage — all of the other channels and networks cover only densely populated areas. Even though it does not have the largest audience, (Pro TV
Pro TV
Launched in December 1995, Pro TV reaches almost 99% of Romania’s 21.5 million people and has 48% of its broadcast schedule comprising locally-produced programs...
and Antena 1, two private networks, consistently get higher ratings in the urban market segment), it offers a wider variety of services, including webcasts and international viewing.
The beginnings
TVR was established in 1956, in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
and had its first broadcast on December 31 from a little building (a deserted cinema studio) on Molière Street no. 2.
Ceauşescu era
TVR moved in 1969 to a new building, the specially built television center on Dorobanţilor Avenue.A second channel, TVR2, was created in 1968 (at that time it was simply called "Programul 2", the second channel and the old TVR became the first channel, "Programul 1"). TVR2 was suspended from 1985, due to the "energy saving programme" initiated by Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
and TVR1 became TVR again, becoming the sole television station in Romania until the fall of communist in 1989.
In 1983 TVR introduced color television. Although the rest of the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
countries adopted the Soviet-backed SECAM
SECAM
SECAM, also written SÉCAM , is an analog color television system first used in France....
system, TVR chose to implement the PAL
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
system.
Due to the same "energy saving programme" between 1985 and 1989, the TVR schedule was severely limited to only about two hours per day, between 20:00 and 22:00, most of which were dedicated to the cult of personalities
Cult of personality
A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are usually associated with dictatorships...
of Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
and his wife Elena
Elena Ceausescu
Elena Ceaușescu was the wife of Romania's Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu, and Deputy Prime Minister of Romania.-Background:She was born Elena Petrescu into a peasant family in Petrești commune, Dâmboviţa County, in the informal region of Wallachia. Her family was supported by her father's job...
; with an exception on Saturdays, from 13:00 to 15:00 and 19:00 to 22:30 and Sundays (the same program as Saturdays, but with children's programs between 11:30 and 12:30). The two hours of programming were half propaganda and half general entertainment:
- 19:53 The Communist National Anthem ("Trei culoriTrei culoriTrei culori was the national anthem of Romania from 1977 until 1990. Since 1990, after the anti-communist Romanian Revolution of 1989, it has been replaced by Deşteaptă-te, române!...
") - 19:57 The Frontul Democraţiei şi Unităţii Socialiste ("Democracy and Socialist Unity Front", FDUS) Anthem ("E scris pe tricolor Unire")
- 19:59:30 Opening (clock)
- 20:00 News ("Telejurnal")
- 20:20 Special programs dedicated to Ceauşescu (documentary or musical shows)
- 21:00 An episode of theatre play, opera or a socialist movie
- 21:50 News ("Telejurnal")
- 21:58 Closing ("Hora Unirii")
Later, the programs increased to three hours per day during the workweek (from 19:00 to 22:00).
After December 1989
During the Revolution of December 1989Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, TVR was an important focal point of the events. Rebels occupied the TVR building, in the afternoon of December 22 and announced that the Ceauşescus had fled. TVR changed its name to "Televiziunea Română Liberă" (TVRL), "Free Romanian Television". On February 17, 1990, TVR2 resumed broadcasting and TVRL became TVR1.
But TVR would remain a propaganda instrument in the hands of the newly created National Salvation Front (FSN), made up mostly of former second-rank Communists. FSN used TVRL, by far the most widely penetrating information source at that time in Romania, to discredit protesters who were demanding a Communist-free government, denigrating them as "fascists". This culminated with the June 1990 riots in central Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, crushed by the miners called in by president Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
. After the riots ended, Iliescu was shown on TV congratulating the miners for "restoring law and order". A little while later, following protests from civil society, TVRL abandoned the "L", the designation "Free" (which had become a laughing stock) and reverted to its previous name of TVR.
After 1990, lacking any strategy, TVR fell into a deep crisis of identity. TVR changed its identity several times without any particular reason. The crisis intensified after 1996.
On January 1, 1993, TVR, as a part of Radioteleviziunea Româna (RTVR), was admitted as a full active member 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...
.
In 1995, TVRi
TVRI
Televisi Republik Indonesia Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) (formerly known as Televisi Indonesia (Indonesian Television in English) and Radio Indonesia (Indonesian Radio in English) is a state-owned television station, the oldest television station in...
was launched on December 1, Great Union Day, the national holiday. In 1998, TVR International was renamed "TV Romania International", with a completely different identity.
In 2001, TVR2 changed its identity, logo and presentation for the fourth time. The same year, after three "rebrandings", TVR1 became "TV Romania 1". The new "Romania 1" changed its identity, including the channel logo, three times in only two years.
In 2002, TVR Cultural
TVR Cultural
TVR Cultural is the cultural channel of Romania's government-funded television network Televiziunea Română. It provides cultural news, documentaries about the arts, as well as various shows, musicals and theatrical pieces.-References:*...
was launched.
In 2003, the management started a controversial rebranding (a new identity was created by the British agency, English & Pockett). On June 11, 2004, all channels were renamed "TVR" and received the same identity.
In October 2007, during its prime-time newscast, TVR aired a video showing Agriculture Minister
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Romania)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania is one of the nineteen ministries of the Government of Romania.The current Minister is Valeriu Tabără. The first post-Communist Minister of Agriculture was Victor Surdu....
Decebal Traian Remeş
Decebal Traian Remeş
Decebal Traian Remeş is a Romanian economist and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party , he was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Maramureş County from 1996 to 2000...
allegedly taking a bribe. In the aftermath, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Romania
The Prime Minister of Romania is the head of the Government of Romania. Initially, the office was styled President of the Council of Ministers , when the term "Government" included more than the Cabinet, and the Cabinet was called The Council of Ministers...
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
Calin Popescu-Tariceanu
Călin Constantin Anton Popescu-Tăriceanu is a Romanian politician. He was the Prime Minister of Romania between 29 December 2004 and 22 December 2008...
criticised TVR for carrying out the minister's "public execution", and a heated debate that showed TVR's weakness in defending its independence ensued. The station's own director called the airing incorrect and illegal because it violated the presumption of innocence, while media organisations and the broadcast regulator defended the legitimacy of the airing, which they said served the public interest. Politicians issued intense attacks against TVR, which reorganised its news department into two divisions. One of its most critical journalists, Rodica Culcer, was placed in charge of supervising both divisions, which actually reduced her decision-making; reassignment has been a typical way through which Romanian governments reduce the power of non-loyal individuals, as more overt measures may have attracted charges of censorship. Other independent journalists were moved to afternoon or night newscasts.
On June 1, 2008, TVR HD
TVR HD
TVR HD is a high-definition version of the Romanian public broadcasting channel TVR. The channel broadcasted Euro 2008 and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in high definition...
started broadcasting in HD. Euro 2008 and the 2008 Summer Olympics were transmitted in HD.
On October 10, 2008, TVR 3 was launched. This is a channel dedicated to local programming, airing shows and news produced in the various regions of Romania.
On December 31, 2008, TVR Info
TVR Info
TVR Info is a niche TV channel that broadcasts 24/7 mainly news, utility information, and live traffic images from the major cities through the country. It is the second niche channel of the public TV broadcaster, after TVR Cultural....
, a "must-carry" channel for all cable operators, was launched. The channel broadcasts traffic information, live feed from cameras in various cities of Romania and also news.
Structure
TVR has seven national TV channels: TVR1, TVR2, TVR3TVR3
TVR3 is the sixth channel of the Romanian public broadcaster, launched on 10 October 2008.It is a generalist channel, centered on reflecting regional events. It will use reports from all of its territorial studios...
, TVR Cultural
TVR Cultural
TVR Cultural is the cultural channel of Romania's government-funded television network Televiziunea Română. It provides cultural news, documentaries about the arts, as well as various shows, musicals and theatrical pieces.-References:*...
, TVR Info
TVR Info
TVR Info is a niche TV channel that broadcasts 24/7 mainly news, utility information, and live traffic images from the major cities through the country. It is the second niche channel of the public TV broadcaster, after TVR Cultural....
, TVRi
TVRI
Televisi Republik Indonesia Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) (formerly known as Televisi Indonesia (Indonesian Television in English) and Radio Indonesia (Indonesian Radio in English) is a state-owned television station, the oldest television station in...
, and TVR HD
TVR HD
TVR HD is a high-definition version of the Romanian public broadcasting channel TVR. The channel broadcasted Euro 2008 and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in high definition...
. TVRi
TVRI
Televisi Republik Indonesia Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) (formerly known as Televisi Indonesia (Indonesian Television in English) and Radio Indonesia (Indonesian Radio in English) is a state-owned television station, the oldest television station in...
is designed for the Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
living outside Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, the "i" coming from International ("Internaţional" in the Romanian language
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
).
It also has six regional TV channels or "studios" ("studiouri teritoriale"): TVR Bucureşti
TVR Bucuresti
TVR Bucureşti is the state-owned regional TV station available in Muntenia, broadcasting since 19 March 2007. Its headquarters are in Bucharest....
, TVR Cluj
TVR Cluj
TVR Cluj is public regional TV station available in Transylvania and Maramureş. It is the first regional branch of the Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune , broadcasting since 3 January 1990...
, TVR Craiova
TVR Craiova
TVR Craiova is one of the six regional branches of the Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune . It was established on May 16, 1996, and began broadcasting on December 1, 1998, with a live transmission from the Mihai Viteazul Square in Craiova....
, TVR Iaşi
TVR Iasi
TVR Iaşi is one of the six regional stations of - the Romanian National Television Station. Its headquarters are in Iaşi. TVR Iaşi programmes are broadcast in the Moldova Region of Romania, covering all eight departments in the north-eastern part of the country...
, TVR Târgu-Mureş and TVR Timişoara
TVR Timisoara
TVR Timişoara is one of the six regional branches of the Societatea Românǎ de Televiziune . On air since 17 October 1994 from a studio in Cluj, which was built in 1990 and from one in Iaşi that began broadcasting in 1991. Its initial airing schedule had a weekly duration of 35 minutes, whereas by...
.
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Romania hosted on 2 December 2006, the international Junior Eurovision Song ContestJunior Eurovision Song Contest
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest , is an international song competition which has been organised by the European Broadcasting Union annually since 2003 and is open exclusively to broadcasters that are members of the EBU. It is held in a different European city each year.The competition has many...
. The Romanian broadcaster has been chosen by 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...
(EBU), for being the organizer of the 4th edition of the contest. For the first time, Romania has been the host of such an event and a show produced by TVR broadcasted live all over Europe, in the member states of the EBU.
Funding and accusations
TVR is funded by direct government subsidies, by a television licenceTelevision licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
tax mandatory for all holders of TV sets and also from advertising. This has been deemed unfair competition by the commercial TV stations, which must rely exclusively on revenue from advertisement and cable operators. Proposals have been made to outlaw advertising on public TV channels.
TVR's board is appointed by the government and the parliament. In its post-Communist history, TVR has been almost constantly suspected of submitting to government control and censorship.
External links
- TVR official website Six TVR journalists accuse censorship (Ziua, 8 December 2004)