“Viewers are already paying for this, just through taxes.”
Introducing a fee for watching OTRK is a good idea, as it would allow the TV channel to become truly public. This opinion was shared with Vesti.kg by Igor Shestakov, a member of the supervisory board of the broadcasting corporation and an expert.
- Currently, OTRK is funded 70 percent from the budget, so it is natural that the broadcasting corporation is used in political games, - he noted. - The question of changing the law regarding the TV channel has been discussed for several years, but nothing changes.
Igor Albertovich explained that Kyrgyz citizens are already paying for watching OTRK, it's just happening through taxes.
- A subscription fee could be introduced - then viewers could pay money at their own discretion, and if they don't like the content, they wouldn't have to spend on it, - he believes. - Deputies are currently discussing such an option. But when it comes down to it, such a law will not be adopted because it is not beneficial for the parliament. We have seen how elected representatives were outraged that they were shown sleeping, and the faces of parliamentarians on screen look unattractive. They need to work, not sleep during meetings. Currently, the term “public broadcasting corporation” implies a public council, the right to choose a director general, and a sign on the building.
To clarify, at a meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh, deputy Bakhaidar Suleimanov proposed introducing a subscription fee for watching OTRK programs. In his opinion, this way the broadcasting corporation would not need state funding and would become truly public.
Veronica Malysheva
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