Teleradio-Moldova (TRM) is the state-owned national radio and television broadcaster in Moldova. TRM oversees the operations of two television channels, Moldova 1 and Moldova 2, and three radio channels, Radio Moldova, Radio Moldova Tineret, and Radio Moldova Muzical.
Media assets
Television: Moldova 1, Moldova 2
Radio: Radio Moldova, Radio Moldova Tineret, Radio Moldova Muzical
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)
Ownership and governance
TRM was established by the Parliament of Moldova. Its activities are governed by the Audiovisual Services Code, the country’s principal legislation regulating the broadcasting sector.
TRM is managed by a committee of senior executives, headed by the General Director. The highest governing body at TRM is the Supervisory Council, whose members are appointed by Parliament. For a brief period between 2019 and 2021, the governance bodies were not subject to parliamentary oversight. The General Director is selected by the Supervisory Council from candidates chosen through a public competition, with the Council responsible for establishing the competition’s rules.
Source of funding and budget
In 2019, TRM had a budget of MDL 139.4m (US$ 8m). Over 88% of the budget was financed by the government, with the remainder generated by the broadcaster through its own commercial activities. In 2020, TRM received a state subsidy of MDL 126.3m (US$ 7m), representing over 92% of the company’s total budget. Two years later, TRM had a total budget of MDL 144.7m (US$ 7.9m), with 93% of the funds coming from the state budget, according to data made public by the broadcaster.
In 2023, the broadcaster operated with a budget of MDL 162m (US$ 8.9m). A media report indicated that the government contributed 88% of the total budget through a state budget allocation, with the remainder derived from commercial revenues.
Editorial independence
There are no legal restrictions on the editorial independence of TRM. Previously, the station served as a government mouthpiece. However, over the past decade, there has been a notable enhancement in its editorial independence.
While the government, the station’s primary source of funding, does exert influence on the broadcaster’s editorial agenda, there is no evidence to suggest that the government exerts control over the station’s editorial coverage. The opposition frequently asserts that the broadcaster is unduly influenced by politics, citing the extensive coverage accorded to the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), which is currently in power. However, journalists from Moldova interviewed for this report in April 2024 indicated that the editorial coverage on TRM is generally balanced and that editorial decisions are not influenced by politics.
TRM’s editorial independence is guaranteed by Article 34 of the Audiovisual Code of Moldova. It stipulates that the station must operate with full editorial independence.
TRM has an Ombudsman office whose primary objective is to oversee the station’s editorial performance and provide guidance on potential improvements. Additionally, the Ombudsman serves as an intermediary between the public and the broadcaster, facilitating the transfer of complaints and criticism from viewers to the station’s top management. The Ombudsman issues an annual report which documents all such cases.
September 2024