New Board Tasked With Reforming Romanian TV

Romania's parliament on Tuesday approved a new board for the state-owned television company, TVR, which comprises representatives of all political parties, the government, the President and the TVR labour union.  

The 13-member board was approved by 312 votes in favour and 21 against.

George Orbean, a journalist and media consultant, is to become the new boss.

In recent months, TVR has come under fire from political parties and the media for its big debts and lack of strategic reforms.

"Urgent decisions need to be taken about the future of this institution. All-ecompassing reform and revised legislation are needed to address all the main questions regarding TVR's funding, leadership and impact on people," media analyst Ioana Avadani said.

As TVR faced financial collapse, a group of politicians early this month prepared a package of legislative amendments to the Law on Television so that insolvency proceedings can be initiated. However, TVR cannot be declared bankrupt as it is a public institution.

The state-owned television is facing long-lasting financial problems, amplified by the general economic crisis. Despite some measures taken over the years to ensure its financial viability, including firing around 30 per cent of the 3,300 employees and closing two national channels, the public television reported a loss last year of some 155 million euros.

Currently, TVR cannot receive any money from the government. "One thing we unfortunately cannot do now, not before July anyway, is to support TVR financially, because that would involve a budget revision. In the meantime, measures should be taken to prevent further losses," Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos said recently.

Reforming Romanian public...