On November 26, 2012 Belsat, the first independent TV channel in Belarus, is to shorten its airtime to 6.5 hours a day and make alterations to information programs transmission.
The main reason for such drastic changes is the lack of the channel’s budget in 2012. It is the first time for five years that Belsat should shorten its airtime and suspend live programs.
“The best part of our budget is grants from the government of Poland, the governments of Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, smaller ones being provided by governments of other countries. It is a pity this year we have not managed to find the amount [of money] required,” Belsat Director Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy said.
Earlier Belsat TV broadcast 17 hours a day. On September 10, 2012 its transmission was reduced to 9 hours on working days. In spite of the measures taken the channel faced the necessity of austerity economy. Unfortunately, our information bloc will be temporarily taken off live broadcast.
The production of the most part of documentaries will be also frozen, information programs being transmitted indirectly. The broadcast of the sponsored programs will be continued, e.g. the ones financed by the Norwegian government.
Belsat TV welcomes you to watch its entertainment and publicistic programs on the Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and January 1st.
Belsat TV intends to get the production and broadcast of information programs back on track on January 3, 2013.
“There are plans of raising European funds for the next year. There is every likelihood that the European Union that has not financed the channel yet will join [our sponsors] at last,” the Director said.
Belsat
