Public Television of Armenia CJSC

Armenia Public Television CJSC was founded on July 30, 2001, by the Republic of Armenia. 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.
Armenia Public Television operates four broadcast channels and one digital platform. The First Channel is the flagship program, broadcasting cultural, entertainment, educational, and political content produced by Public Television. It is available throughout Armenia.
The First News Channel began broadcasting in June 2021, initially serving only the Yerevan area. Following amendments to the On Audiovisual Media law on May 22, 2024, the capital-area coverage slot was replaced with a national coverage slot, and since June 9, 2024, the channel has been available throughout Armenia.
The First International Channel provides worldwide coverage, broadcasting programs for Armenians living abroad, including Beside Armenia, Diary of a Returnee, and Neruj 5.0. The fourth program, First Channel America, operates as a subsidiary registered in the United States, targeting Armenians in North and South America. The channel broadcasts on the Spectrum network.
Since March 1, 2024, Armenia Public Television also operates the New Channel program on YouTube and social media platforms, intended for younger audiences.
Armenia Public Television established the First Channel Media Academy foundation, led by Hrachuhi Utmazian, which provides free educational programs in media.
The director of Armenia Public Television CJSC is Hovhannes Movsisyan. According to the company's charter, no board of directors is formed. Current operations are managed by the director, who, under the Law on Joint-Stock Companies, manages the company's property and financial resources, concludes transactions on behalf of the company, represents the company, signs contracts including employment agreements, issues orders and instructions within his authority, and supervises their implementation.
The Public Broadcaster Council (PBC) serves as the representative of the Republic of Armenia, approving the statutes of public broadcasters and ensuring and supervising their management. PBC members are appointed competitively by the Prime Minister, who selects the Council's chairman by secret ballot from among the members.
The chairman of the PBC is Vasak Darbinian, elected to this position on June 2, 2025. He was appointed as a PBC member in October 2021 by the Prime Minister.
Public broadcasters have legally mandated obligations, including ensuring diversity in informational, educational, cultural, and entertainment programs, developing and implementing program policies, providing programming representing the interests of different regions of Armenia, national minorities, various social strata and groups, and programs aimed at overcoming stereotypes based on national, racial, religious, gender, age, disability, personal, or other social characteristics. The law states that public broadcasters are guided by the principles of objectivity, democracy, impartiality, diversity, and pluralism, and ensure the right to express opinions, freedom of conscience, thought, and belief, as well as creative freedom.
The main source of financial resources for Armenia Public Television CJSC is the state budget of the Republic of Armenia. The company also has a subsidiary providing advertising services for programs owned by the CJSC, serving as an additional source of income. It also provides certain services for profit-making purposes.
Several individuals working at the television company and its programs have previously held positions in government structures. Before his current appointment, director Hovhannes Movsisyan served as director of the Public Relations and Information Center under the Office of the Prime Minister. Deputy director and chief producer Tigran Virabyan previously served as deputy mayor of Yerevan. Head producer of political programs Petros Ghazaryan is married to Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports.
The television company faces criticism from opposition figures regarding editorial balance. Critics argue that guests on its programs are predominantly representatives of the ruling Civil Contract party. In response, the company states that opposition representatives are also invited for interviews but often decline to appear.
Key Facts
| Business Form | State-funded |
|---|---|
| Legal Form | Closed Joint-Stock Company |
| Business Sectors | Inclusion in and Broadcasting of TV Programs |
Ownership
| Individual Owner |
|---|
Media Outlets
Other Media Outlets
| Other TV Outlets | First International Channel (Missing data) (International) |
|---|
Facts
| Other Media Businesses | Advertising Agency
Services
Education
|
|---|---|
| Other International Businesses |
|
| Founding Year | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Founder |
|
| Employees | 585 |
| Contact | 26 Hovsepyan Street Yerevan Armenia pr@1tv.am, ceooffice@1tv.am +374 10 650015 www.1tv.am |
| Tax / ID Number | CJSC Tax ID: 01540062 State Register of Legal Entities of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia |
| Revenue | AMD 6,954,162,000 / USD 17,707,233 (2024) |
|---|---|
| Operating Profit | AMD -222,388,000 / USD -566,262 (2024) |
| Advertising (in % of total funding) | AMD 757,909,000 / USD 1,929,847, 10.9% of total revenue (2024) |
| Executive Board |
|
|---|
| Headlines |
| |
|---|---|---|
| Active Transparency | company/channel informs proactively and comprehensively about its ownership, data is constantly updated and easily verifiable | |
| Meta Data | Information about Public Television of Armenia CJSC is primarily available on the First Channel's website, which publishes annual reports regarding the company's programs, financial resources, and staff. The necessary information is generally accessible in public sources. In response to an inquiry addressed to the company, Public Television of Armenia CJSC reported employing 585 staff members in permanent positions and 229 individuals under civil contracts as service providers. Financial data conversion: 1 USD = 392.73 AMD (2024 average rate, Central Bank of Armenia). In the annual financial report published by Public Television of Armenia CJSC, revenue from advertising is not specified separately; instead, the report presents combined profit from both advertising and sponsorship. | |
| Sources |
| |
| Documents (PDF) |
|





