Round Table Conference on The Public Media and Public Finance, The Case of BNR and Musicautor Association

Round Table Conference on the Public Media and Public Finance, the Case of BNR and Musicautor Association was held at the university. There was a wide-ranged debate about the real status and adequate solutions related to the topic. In the Forum organized by the Center for Media Research and Audiovisual Policy and the Media and Public Communications Department took part representatives of the academic circles, BNR, BNT, Electronic Media Council, Krastyo Sarafov National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA), etc.

In the Large Conference Hall

When problems arise then profound discussions should be held, assessed the importance of the Round Table Conference Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Vice Rector of the university. He expressed his confidence that generating ideas and suggestions would assist for the solution of the case. The copyright issues always require such discussions, outlined Prof. Goev who greeted the participants on behalf of the Rector of UNWE Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev.

Prof. Petko Todorov, Dr. Diana Andreeva, Prof. Valentin Goev, Assoc. Prof. Stela Angova, Assoc. Prof. Bilyana Tomova (from the right to the left)

I welcome the idea of public debate on such an important topic, outlined Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Dean of the Economics of Infrastructure Faculty. The discussion has many dimensions, the initiative should be supported and it is part of our Faculty policy as well as part of our university policy, pointed out Prof. Dimitrov.

Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov

This case highlighted some very important issues such as the commensurability of relations, commented Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stela Angova, Head of the Media and Public Communications Department. According to her the large number of viewpoints on the topic will be focused on the identification of right solutions.  

Assoc. Prof. Angova (on the left), Prof. Goev and Dr. Andreeva

Introduction to the topic and issues related to it was made by Dr. Diana Andreeva, Moderator for the Round Table Conference. She examined the public finance, budgetary procedures with limited expenditure ceilings, the status of public media. Dr. Andreeva appealed the participants to consolidation for the protection of public media.

About the anxious status of public media, media market, economic aspects of the issue and decision making process spoke Prof. Dr. Petko Todorov, Director of the Center for Media Research and Audiovisual Policy. He commented on the media sphere as related to the political circles, the slow growth of legislation, “mines” set up for the BNR and BNT in the Radio and Television Act, positions of Electronic Media Council, alteration of legislation and financing, the role of private monopolist of the radio and television transmission system, etc.

Prof. Todorov (on the right) is commenting the issues of public media

The media are a permanent territory at the UNWE, a professional field having an assessment 9.43, motivated the fact that the university had been the initiator and host of the meeting Prof. Todorov.

From the warfare to the economic analysis of the situation was concentrated the statement of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilyana Tomova from the Media and Public Communications Department. She commented the place of “public operators having a public mission”, financing system of public media, cultural strategy, etc.

During the Round Table Conference

Thanks to the UNWE for the initiative, I myself have graduated from the university, pointed out in his statement Alexander Velev, Director General of BNR. The major issue is the media financing, said Velev. The functions don`t decrease but the funds are reduced, gave reasons for the status of BNR over the last years the Director of the media. He exposed the chronology of “the case related to the Musicautor Association” – the unilateral cessation of the contract concluded with BNR and the prohibition by the Association over the music whose rights are held by the Musicautor, ineffective negotiations of the public media, groundless requirement for drastic increase in the price of musical rights, etc.

Participants in the Forum

Statements on the topic were also made by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mariana Lazarova from the NATFA and Dimitar Bayraktarov, former deputy. The opened discussion, comments and ideas helped finding out the possible solutions related to the topic.