BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 11. A seminar titled "Broadcasting in the Republic of Azerbaijan: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," organized by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and the Audiovisual Council, has been held in Baku, Trend reports.
The seminar reviewed past broadcasting work, highlighted successes made possible by government support for broadcasters, and discussed future development plans for the industry.
The event gathered representatives from the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Audiovisual Council under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, the Radio and Television Broadcasting and Satellite Communications Production Association, the State Radio Frequency Management, and national broadcasters.
The speakers emphasized that, from the first days of Azerbaijan's independence, radio broadcasting in the country has been rapidly developing thanks to the special attention and care of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
In addition, the speakers proudly noted that the great leader personally oversaw the completion of the unfinished Baku TV Tower Complex and its commissioning in 1996. This involvement not only improved the quality and expanded the coverage of television and radio broadcasting in the country, but also led to the launch of FM radio broadcasting, which was considered an advanced technology at the time.
The seminar also mentioned that the widespread introduction of FM radio broadcasting in the country, the development of technical capabilities of channels, and the expansion of the broadcasting infrastructure allowed for the subsequent cessation of AM radio broadcasting. This led to an improvement in the environment, reducing annual energy consumption for broadcasting by 14 times and reducing carbon emissions from 18.7 kilotons to 1.3 kilotons.
Moreover, the seminar highlighted that, starting in 2016, President Ilham Aliyev signed relevant decrees in connection with state financial assistance to meet the information needs of society, educate the population, and strengthen the material and technical base of private broadcasters who actively participate in the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people both domestically and internationally.
The speakers claimed that the state's fivefold financial assistance, totaling 15 million manat ($8.8 million) in recent years, had ensured high-quality radio broadcasting.
The seminar reminded us that President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on July 24, 2023, "On the Allocation of Financial Resources for the Expansion of the Radio Broadcasting Network in the Territory of Azerbaijan," allocating 13.7 million manat ($8 million), in line with the country's population's need for broader and higher-quality radio broadcasts.
The seminar then went on to talk about how the above decree led to the purchase and installation of different pieces of technical equipment at 17 radio and TV stations, as well as steps being taken to make infrastructure more sustainable and up-to-date. This made sure that people all over the country, including those who had just been freed in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, could watch national broadcasters' shows.
The event explained that the decree also includes additional support for national broadcasters by reimbursing operational costs for three years from the state budget, which provides broadcasters with an opportunity to expand their commercial activities during this period.
As the seminar mentioned, over the past five years, with the aim of ensuring a higher level of radio program diversity and the efficient use of national radio frequencies, the Audiovisual Council organized competitions, resulting in an increase in the number of national terrestrial radio channels from 11 to 17.
The speakers went on to say that the "Action Plan for the Introduction and Development of Digital Radio Broadcasting in Azerbaijan," which the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan approved by decree on October 7, 2023, is a crucial document for the radio sector's transition to digital broadcasting.
The seminar also explained that the action plan schedules expansion of the DAB+ digital radio broadcasting standard, which began in 2019 in Baku and the Absheron peninsula, across the entire country.
According to the speakers, in order to achieve the expansion, by the end of the current year, the DAB+ broadcasting equipment at the Baku TV Tower Complex will be replaced with new equipment, and DAB+ broadcasting will be organized from the Gulustan radio and television station located in the Aghsu district.
The speakers also stated that Azerbaijan's consistent state policy in this area ensures that the population receives information in line with modern requirements and strengthens the nation's national security.
Private broadcasters actively participated in the seminar's discussions and expressed their deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and the state authorities for their support and the favorable conditions they created for their activities.
The participants expressed confidence that state-private partnerships in this field, where private channels dominate among broadcasters, will lead to sustainable development with new successes.
Note that radio broadcasting began in Azerbaijan for the first time on November 6, 1926. The establishment of a 35-kilowatt radio station throughout 1936 enabled the reception of Azerbaijani radio transmissions throughout the Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and along the eastern shore of the Black Sea.
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