OSCE organizes seminar on new models of TV funding in Turkmenistan
Funding models for television in the 21st century was the topic of an OSCE-organized seminar that took place in Ashgabat on 5 and 6 June 2019.
Representatives of Turkmenistan’s State Committee for TV, Radiobroadcasting and Cinematography, the Mejlis (the parliament), the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Office of the Ombudsperson, and the Institute of the State, Law and Democracy and other relevant institutions participated in the event.
The seminar was delivered by international experts from the United Kingdom and Ukraine who presented fundamental principles of public service broadcasting and traditional funding models for state, commercial and public service television.
In her opening message to the participants of the seminar, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat Natalya Drozd said: “The OSCE participating States are committed to making use of the modern means of communication to promote the free and wide dissemination of information.”
“Transition to new models of TV funding is essential for the further democratization of society and development of market relations, and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat is ready to provide expert support in this important process.”
Discussions focused on the distinctive features of the media market and the importance of researching audience needs and analysing consumption habits for broadcast and print media. The participants exchanged views on the challenges of technological progress for creativity and competition.
The participants examined funding models such as subscription systems, TV licence fees, microfinancing, digital services tax and hybrid models. The rise of the internet and non-linear media and digital transformation in the media were also addressed.
Upon completion of the seminar, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized a roundtable discussion with senior representatives of the State Committee for TV, Radiobroadcasting and Cinematography, the Mejlis, and other relevant institutions. The roundtable discussion presented the outcomes of the seminar on TV funding models and offered a platform for the exchange of views on optimal models of TV funding. The international experts elaborated on the current trends in TV production, stages of the gradual transition to new models of TV funding and advantages of a hybrid model. The roundtable participants stressed the importance of audience research and engagement as well as media literacy and awareness.