Signs of the Times
RussiaStatutesRestructuring of State TVAzerbaijanI. Paper views Yeltsin meeting with TV leaders.Appointment of New Head of VGTRK
II. Yeltsin reassuring about new state media holding.
III. Government Tightens Control of TV: The media holding may be able to control transmission and set unfavorable rates for competitors.
IV. New holding will not raise charges for transmission.
V. Russian state broadcasters face major change.
VI. New state media holding will respect broadcasters’ rights.
VII. RIA agency becomes subsidiary of VGTRK.
VIII. Paper sees spate of TV, media changes as “political.”
IX. Resources for state support of media “limited”—minister.
X. Holding company to become powerful monopoly—paper.
XI. State holding company to benefit VGTRK—paper.
XII. Yeltsin decree on state-owned broadcasters.
XIII. Attempts to clarify media ownership premature—paper.I. Russia TV should be broad church, says new chief.Media News from Duma
II. Former VGTRK head Svanidze to continue “struggle” on state TV.
III. VGTRK head wants “partnership” with regional media.
IV. Kultura TV head to be new head of VGTRK.
V. VGTRK chief resigns pending formation of holding company.I. Duma moots “moral” curbs on broadcasting.Other Media NewsI. New Internet-TV “hybrid” to carry government news.
II. Chechen president decrees control of state TV-radio.
III. Article views growth of regional TV networks.New Licensing Regulations and the Suspension of Radio LibertyKazakhstan
(See p. 41 for the full text of the regulations.)I. Azerbaijan’s media fear greater curbs.
II. President steps in to allow Radio Liberty back on air.
III. Radio Liberty must obtain licence—minister.
IV. Radio Liberty applies for Azeri broadcast licence.
V. Radio Liberty official says ban not “political.”
VI. “Political dictatorship” put Radio Liberty off air, activists say.
VII. Minister explains ban on Radio Liberty relays.
VIII. MP critical of ban on Radio Liberty relays.
IX. Radio Liberty ban sign of authorities’ “weakness”—paper.
X. Azerbaijan stops Radio Liberty relays.I. Kazakhstan on defensive over Berezovskiy-Murdoch TV plans.Albania
II. Murdoch’s News Corp. Invests in Russia.I. Draft law on broadcasting completed.
BulgariaI. “Chaos” in licensing cable TV operators.Poland
II. Government moves bills on radio, television.
III. Cabinet approves national media and telecoms bills.
IV. Media group wants abolition of licence concession-granting.I. Solidarity wants new broadcasting council elected.
Slovakia
II. Treasury minister rejects new Polish Radio board.
III. Ruling coalition opposes registration of new radio board.
IV. Senate rejects broadcasting council’s report.
V. Paper views struggle for control of Polish TV.
VI. Paper looks at political infighting behind TV appointments.
VII. Cabinet requests help of private TV stations.
VIII. PM regrets public TV fails to back government.I. Watchdog says TV coverage of party assembly was unbalanced.
Yugoslavia and Former Yugoslavia
II. Private radios, TVs protest at ban on covering election campaign.
III. Opposition slams TV coverage of ruling party assembly.A. Bosnia-Herzegovina
I. Serb ministry condemns idea of joint TV service.B. Croatia
II. OHR proposes joint television service.
III. Sfor troops to withdraw from Serb transmitters.
IV. Changes expected in organization of TV and radio.
V. Independent body to regulate broadcasters.
VI. OSCE bans paid radio-TV election campaigning.
VII. Serbs and Sfor agree return of TV transmitters.I. Changes at Croatian TV “to take place in June.”C. Serbia-Montenegro
II. Parliament debates amendments to radio-TV law.
III. HRT director discusses reform of public television.
IV. Ruling party agrees to Croatian TV reforms.Tenders for FrequenciesI. More bids invited for broadcasting frequencies.Formation of RTJ
II. Government reduces radio-TV fees by 75 per cent.
III. Agency critical of frequency tender.
IV. Independent Serbian media to defy licence curbs.
V. High frequency fees are “blow” to media freedom.
VI. Government sets criteria for fees for use of frequencies.
VII. Authorities said “buying time” on frequencies issue.I. Federal TV programme “not welcome” in Montenegro.Other Media News
II. RTJ “not financed from federal budget.”
III. New Radio-TV Yugoslavia launched.I. Authorities ban local Pirot TV in eastern Serbia.
II. Media association denounces closure of TV Pirot.
Regulations “On Granting Licenses for Television and Radio Broadcasting and the Printing Business”
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