Licensing Runs Into Continent of Problems

The situation with licensing the Television and Radio Company by the National Television and Radio Council heated up again recently. It all started with the latest round of steps taken to “clarify matters” [read: get even with] between the National Council and Vinnytsia’s Ishtar Television Company and the first week ended with Radio Continent’s frequency being transferred to Kharkiv’s Oniks Radio Company (our Kharkiv experts report that Oniks is one of few local stations that have not folded in the ongoing energy crisis; it has enough of own programs, including news). The main reason for the official grievances addressed to Continent by the National Council was the station’s debts to the state budget, although its manager Serhiy Sholokh still sees the situation as strictly politically motivated.

Unexpectedly, the president came out in support of Radio Continent, suggesting that the National Council suspend its decision revoking the license and revise the issue in a more detailed manner. In his letter to the council, Leonid Kuchma stressed the need to strictly observe the constitution, particularly where it says that Ukrainian citizens shall be free to obtain information.

Also, the National Council’s endeavors in licensing domestic TV and radio companies caused complaints from Verkhovna Rada.