Official Says Expired License Behind Radio Kontynent Shutdown

Ukraine’s National Television and Radio Broadcasting Board Chairman Borys Kholod has cited an expired broadcasting license and financial problems as the reason why Radio Kontynent was closed last week. He further denied any political motives behind the shutdown and noted that “the license issued in 1995 has expired and cannot be extended.” To quote him, in 1995 the Television and Radio Broadcasting Board issued Radio Kontynent a license for twelve hours of daily broadcasts and in 1997 for twenty-four hours of broadcasts at the 100.9 FM frequency. Kontynent has not paid the license tax for the second license. As a result, the board announced a tender for the 100.9 FM frequency and declared Onyx Television and Radio Company the successful bidder. Kholod stated that in selecting the winner the board took into account the major arrears and poor financial condition of Radio Kontynent. He further stated that since 2001 Kontynent had not attempted to obtain a license for broadcasts at a different frequency, while the Supreme Court decision on proceedings that ended in 2003 was in favor of the Television and Radio Broadcasting Board. When asked why Kontynent was pulled off the air only in March 2004 and not in August 2003, Kholod failed to provide a clear answer, according to www.podrobnosti.com.ua. “The shutdown of Radio Kontynent and silencing of Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, Voice of America, and other international broadcasters is an assault on democracy and is a serious concern in an election year in Ukraine when the need for news from many sources is greatest,” the United States Department of State said in its March 4 statement in response to the closing of Radio Kontynent, whose transmitter was shut off last Wednesday by the Ukrainian State Center for Radio Frequencies.