Azerbaijan proposes commercialization of Teleradio services

Teleradio production association of the Azerbaijani ministry of communications and IT to expand services of digital television all over the country, the ministry told on Monday.

The aspirant for expanding services in digital format across the country is B&BTV Communication Company and it is expected that contract will be signed with this company.

Commercialization of the 'Teleradio' services meets the strategy of the ministry on increasing profitability of the production association amid decrease of the Association's revenues.

Digital television is an innovation which unlike analog infrastructure requires fewer expenses. At present annual electricity costs of the Teleradio amount to 250,000 manat.

Decrease of infrastructure costs will touch in the future cost of lease of broadcasting infrastructure of the production association for the public TV and radio channels (AzTV и ITV). After the full digitization of the broadcasting infrastructure of Teleradio annual leasing cost will be reduced from 3 million manat to 1 million manat. However private companies will pay many times more.

These issues were discussed with private TV and radio companies as well as with the National council on television and radio broadcasting.

The Teleradio plans to cover 100-per cent of the country by digital television signal and prepare network infrastructure by commercial services. Infrastructure of the Teleradio production association will be proposed on lease basis to commercial structures (private TV and radio companies and cable operators) which will contribute to rise of revenues of the production association.

Operators will pay for use of the Teleradio infrastructure and installation of its equipment. Tariffs determined by the ministry of communications and IT will be presented to the Tariffs council.

 

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