A1 Plus Anniversary

Unzipped reminds its readers that today marks the sixth anniversary of the end of A1 Plus as a TV station in Armenia. The pro-opposition media outlet was deprived of its license to broadcast on 2 April 2002 in what many consider to be a politically-partisan tender for frequencies.

The blog also updates its previous post on the fifth anniversary of A1 Plus’ closure and not least since the embattled TV company has since made use of new technologies such as YouTube, especially during the recent state of emergency.

“(for years) They tried to ban A1+ TV, they sort of succeeded, but they was not able to ban A1+, for me - the symbol of free speech in Armenia. A1+ continued its live online. And today they announced the launch of A1+ blog - another step from A1+ journalists to promote free speech in Armenia. [I would also add A1+ YouTube channel - established on 17 January 2008, it became one of the most viewed channels in the whole YouTube!] If one day I switch on TV and see A1+ station live, I will understand that I probably live in different Armenia, in better Armenia, in Armenia which can be transformed to a country where I would prefer live in…”

Today, it’s 6 years since A1+ is off air… but still on…

Incidentally, there are some photographs of the albeit small demonstrations held in Yerevan in support of A1 Plus when it was taken off the air in 2002 here, as well as an interview with the station’s director conducted the day after the decision by the National Commission on TV and Radio here.