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Golden Era Advances on Ukrainian Television

27 April, 00:00

For Ukrainian television the "Golden Era" obviously came at the wrong time this year. There is growing Parliament-Cabinet confrontation in the mass media. The President is still to shape his part of the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC). The findings of the National Television Company's Auditing Committee, pointing to substantial abuses, still hang in midair as no one has heard of any further steps. As before, the opposition has no access to television programs, and Parliament is again planning to return to the NTRC leadership issue, primarily with regard to Zynovy Kulyk. The government channel UT-1 is still witch-hunting in Verkhovna Rada. Last week its "7 Days" again gave an example of its blatant contempt for Ukraine's supreme legislative body. And in the photo we can see Mykola Kanyshevsky rejoicing at the victory of his "Visti Tyzhnia" (News of the Week) in the Golden Era contest (in the best news show category). He is happy, yet he is barred from the air for obvious political and commercial reasons. Is it joy through tears? How many other TV producers will receive the same "consolation prize" in the course of the presidential race?

True, there is no denying the fact that the best professionals, who do their job diligently and play fair should be singled out and awarded, in any field of endeavor, at all times. Just as it is true that in this particular case fair play causes no doubts.
One can agree with Oles Buzyna who said in the Golden Era (in full the Second Annual Zolota Era Professional Television Contest) lobby that nothing is a greater asset for any television channel than decency and a sense of proportion. Oleksandr Rodniansky, as President of the Television Academy of Ukraine and 1+1 Studio General Producer, together with colleagues, this time met their national counterparts halfway. First, they withdrew 1+1 with academy members Yuri Makarov ("Telemania") and Mykola Veresen ("Taboo"), followed by others like Inter's Oleksandr Tkachenko and his "Face of the World," and film director Oleh Biyma). Second, they refused to vie in the nominations that brought them the Golden Era trophy last year.

What can be better than a good joke in good company? Oleksandr Martynenko, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, before reading out Mr. Kuchma's message of greetings, apologized for his boss's absence, saying that the President "promised he would definitely attend next year." Mr. Martynenko did not specify in what capacity, though. Who knows? Maybe as an honorary member of the Television Academy after being the number one viewer for the past four years.

What about the contest? More on this in coming issues.

Newspaper output №:

№16, (1999)

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