Public Television of Armenia, also known as Armenia 1, is the country’s public television broadcaster, with a history dating back to 1956.
Media assets
Television: 1TV
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
The Public Television of Armenia was officially established as a “state enterprise with a special status” under the 2000 Law on Television and Radio Broadcasting. The Council of Public Broadcaster, the highest authority within the Public Television of Armenia, consists of seven members. Six of these members are appointed directly by the country’s Prime Minister.
Source of funding and budget
The Public Television of Armenia is primarily funded through a state grant, receiving approximately AMD 6bn (US$11 m) annually, according to the broadcaster’s annual reports. In 2022, the broadcaster received a government subsidy of AMD 5.27bn (US$12.1 m). In addition, it generated about AMD 1.2m from advertising and sponsorship revenues in the same year.
Editorial independence
While Armenian legislation ostensibly provides a series of provisions intended to ensure the editorial independence of broadcasters, the reality is that public television in Armenia primarily serves as a propaganda tool to advance state interests.
The latest round of research for this report has not identified any independent assessment or oversight mechanism to verify the independence of the Public Television of Armenia.
August 2024