Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.6 / Trend M. Aliyev /
The Azerbaijani National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council (NTRBC) called on channels not to broadcast TV programs, contradicting the national moral values.
"The Council has no authority to interfere in the creative activity of the private channels, but each television channel should broadcast TV programs to enlighten the society," NTRBC head Nushiravan Maharramli told Trend in his interview at the end of 2010.
He said the Council had always given such recommendations to the television channels.
Broadcasting of several television programs, like "Onun yarısı", "Sen tek deyilsen", were suspended on the Azerbaijani television channel ATV.
According to Maharramli, the Council intends to apply to the relevant structures to provide him with additional powers for full or partial suspension of broadcasting of some television programs broadcasted on private television channels. Powers may be given on the basis of changes in legislation.
"In 2010, private TV channels increased the number of television programs devoted to Azerbaijan's national moral values, but their content causes concern in society, the number of entertainment programs has increased which is turn excites NTRBC. Today, one of the worrying factors is the fact that these channels virtually have no TV program promoting Azerbaijan's history, its literature," Maharramli said.
Azerbaijan has eight republican, 14 regional and 13 cable television channels.