At least $9 million from the budget is spent annually on the maintenance of state media in Kyrgyzstan. Deputy Dastan Bekeshev announced at a meeting of Parliament.
He suggested transferring some state television channels to external management.
«$9 million is spent on TV channels and newspapers a year. About 400 million soms are allocated per year for OTRK only. But there are also ads. Maybe we should transfer them to external management, sell?» Dastan Bekeshev asked.
The Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy Azamat Zhamankulov replied that it was planned to create a media holding for all state media. «The issue of sale of Pyramid and Channel Five was raised earlier; we are not against it. But there should be one state television channel, as there are social and cultural issues. Therefore, OTRK and ElTR must be preserved,» he said.
According to the minister, after changing the status of OTRK, additional 13 million soms will be required from the budget. «This is for the salaries of employees,» he added.
According to Azamat Zhamankulov, 760 employees work at OTRK, and 260 — at ElTR.
