Apace Media Plc says it has learned that on 10 October 2007 the Albanian National Council for Radio and Television (NCRT), the regulatory body for the broadcasting sector in Albania, issued a preliminary decision to suspend the National Broadcasting Licence of the Albanian national television broadcaster, TVA - TV Arberia sh.p.k (TVA). The NCRT has at the same time issued a warning to the other Albanian national broadcaster - TV Klan.
This preliminary decision by the NCRT is based on a claim that TVA has not complied with the terms of its existing licence. NCRT has invited the management of TVA to present its objections and defence within a 30-day period.
Prior to Apace Media’s decision to invest significantly in TVA (approximately £2 million mainly in loans), the NCRT had taken the decision to reduce the period of TVA’s existing broadcasting licence by one year, due to non-compliance with its licence requirements. On 1 October, 2007 this decision was overturned in favour of TVA by the Tirana District Court, through lack of evidence.
If NCRT does not lodge an appeal before a set deadline, the original period of the broadcasting license will remain in force until 3rd January 2009. TVA will also lodge a formal application for renewal of its licence. As part of this process, and to strengthen the international resources of the broadcaster, Apace Media plc has decided (through its wholly-owned subsidiary Apace Media Albania) to take up the option for 40% of the equity of TVA.
Apace Media says that while TVA had breached some of its licence terms in the past, largely as a consequence of lack of resources, since January 2007 the newly-appointed management of TVA has considerably improved the performance (in line with the requirements of the law and of the TVA licence). These improvements include the acquisition and/or in-house production of a large volume of new programming. Up-to-date equipment and technology has also been bought to enhance the technical quality and viewing coverage.
Apace Media plc admits that it acquired its stake in TVA in the full knowledge that this was a speculative investment. The company says it will support TVA’s management and work with the other shareholders to contest and reverse the above decisions of NCRT and to continue with the regeneration of TVA as a successful broadcaster.
(Source: Apace Media via Ray Woodward/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
