You're reading: Volia move latest blow to TVi’s reach

TVi, a television channel known for its critical stance of the authorities, will see its Kyiv audience greatly reduced after leading cable network provider Volia decided to transfer the station to its most expensive package on Sept. 5.

While Volia says this is purely a business decision, the channel’s managers claim it is the result of pressure by those in power, who want to limit the number of TVi viewers.

“This package [Vsesvit] comprises the best and the most highly rated channels available, which includes TVi,” said Alina Sigda, a Volia spokesperson, adding that the     channel’s premium content warranted a premium subscription.

Sigda conceded, however, that oligarch-owned, government-friendly channels with the highest of ratings, namely Inter and 1+1, will remain in the less expensive, basic packages.

TVi is owned by an exhiled Russian tycoon and claims to be independently managed by its Ukrainian staff of editors and journalists.

The authorities are obviously aiming to shut us down— TVi head Mykola Kniazhytsky

In Kyiv, a monthly subscription for the Vsesvit package costs Hr 80, almost twice the Hr 47 price for the standard version. According to the cable network provider, the cheaper package has about 250,000 subscribers in the capital, while Volia Vsesvit subscribers number only 78,000. Sigda added that viewers shifting to the Vsesvit package would pay the lower price for three months.

TVi managers fear this will reduce their audience, which has already decreased dramatically throughout Ukraine, eventually leading to the channel’s closure.

“The authorities are obviously aiming to shut us down,” TVi head Mykola Kniazhytsky said. “It has been hard to survive. Just during this election period we have lost nearly Hr 16 million.”

The decision marks the latest in a series of woes dogging the channel, one of the few remaining TV outlets that dare to broadcast criticism of the government and produce hard-hitting investigative reports exposing corruption at the highest ranks of President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration.

According to Kniazhytsky, who is currently running for parliament on the United Opposition ticket, the National Television and Radio Council initially demanded Volia totally disconnect TVi, but the cable operator only moved it to another package. Sigda denied the decision of Volia was provoked by pressure.

Ukrainian prosecutors opened a criminal case against Kniazhytsky in July for tax evasion, but closed it weeks ago amid mounting pressure, citing “lack of evidence.” However, a court hearing scheduled for Sept. 12 could reopen the case, and could cost the channel up to Hr 9 million in legal expenses, Kniazhytsky claimed.

On Aug. 13, TVi was turned off by nine cable network operators in Ukraine’s eastern regions.
The channel’s managers claim cable operators were pressured by authorities eager to muzzle them ahead of the fall election.

“Over 60 cable companies have removed TVi from their packages,” journalists from the station wrote in an open petition to Ukrainian public and European bodies.

A number of Ukrainian musicians announced plans to participate in a street concert supporting TVi on Sept. 8 at Kyiv’;s Mykhailivska Square, hoping to draw attention to the channel’s woes.

An August study by the Common Space Association, a non-governmental organization, showed that TVi was the most critical of Yanukovych’s administration of all national TV channels. Authorities received overall positive coverage in the rest of national media, the study noted.

International observers fear that biased coverage may seriously influence the results of the parliamentary elections scheduled for Oct. 28.

“When you look at individual TV channels there doesn’t seem to be any channel at a national level that would provide equitable coverage of all political parties … This (has much in) common to the situation during the 2004 elections,” said Rasto Kuzel, executive director of MEMO 98, a Slovakia-based media watchdog. “We see slightly different coverage by TVi (compared) to all the other channels.”
Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Grytsenko can be reached at [email protected].