First Channel of Armenia
The First Channel is the flagship channel of Armenia's Public Television and the Public Broadcasting System. According to the Law of the Republic of Armenia On Audiovisual Media, the Public Broadcaster is defined as a broadcaster that is 100% owned by the Republic of Armenia. The First Channel operates under the supervision of the Public Broadcaster's Council (PBC), the authorized body responsible for managing and overseeing public broadcasters and approving their charters. Members of the PBC are appointed by the Prime Minister through a competitive process, while the Council elects its chairperson by secret ballot from among its members.
The First Channel began broadcasting in 1956. After Armenia's independence, the television company continued operations, inheriting infrastructure and technical resources from the Soviet era. Currently, in cooperation with China, a new eighth building is under construction.
The channel is accessible throughout Armenia and broadcasts programs on political and social issues, as well as television series, children's programs, and literary content.
The First Channel faces criticism from opposition figures and certain societal groups regarding editorial balance. Critics contend that representatives of the ruling authorities appear more frequently on air and that interviewers are not always impartial. Petros Ghazaryan, head producer of political programs at the First Channel, notes that opposition figures are also invited but often refuse the invitation.
During the 2024 protests demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation, movement leader Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and his supporters held a demonstration outside the Public Television building, demanding an opportunity to deliver a live address. Initially, the broadcaster rejected the demand, offering instead an interview with Petros Ghazaryan. An agreement was eventually reached: in approximately 25 minutes of airtime, the archbishop delivered his message to the public, while the second part was designated for an interview. However, he mostly avoided answering questions, emphasizing that his participation was solely out of respect for viewers and the program format.
According to journalist Katya Mamyan's 2025 research, Petros Ghazaryan's interviews have predominantly featured representatives and supporters of the ruling Civil Contract party, with more than half of his airtime occupied by Civil Contract members.
Key Facts
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| Ownership Type | Public |
| Geographic Coverage | National |
| Content Type | Free |
| Active Transparency | company/channel informs proactively and comprehensively about its ownership, data is constantly updated and easily verifiable |
Ownership
| Ownership Structure | The First Channel is a program of Public Television of Armenia CJSC. The company’s 100% shares are owned by the Republic of Armenia. |
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| Voting Rights | According to the Charter of Public Television of Armenia CJSC, the company does not form a Board of Directors. Current operations are managed by the company's director, Hovhannes Movsisyan. Under the Law of the Republic of Armenia On Joint-Stock Companies, the director manages the company's property and financial resources, concludes transactions on behalf of the company, serves as the company's representative, and signs contracts including labor agreements. Within his authority, the director issues orders and directives, gives mandatory instructions for execution, and oversees their implementation. The law defines additional rights, and the charter may establish further powers for the director. |
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Facts
| Founding Year | 1956 Armenian television's history began on September 5, 1955, when the Council of Ministers of the USSR authorized construction of 27 program centers and 5 transmitting stations across the Union republics. In Yerevan, construction began on Nork Hill for Armenia's television station, soon followed by installation of the first television tower, standing 180 meters high. On November 29, 1956, coinciding with the anniversary of Armenia's Sovietization, Armenian television broadcast for the first time. |
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| Contact | 26 Hovsepyan Street Yerevan Armenia pr@1tv.am, ceooffice@1tv.am +374 10 650015 www.1tv.am |
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| Advertising (in % of total funding) | Missing data |
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