Associated Television
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| Type | Television (terrestrial and online) |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability |
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| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters | Keraþ, Arsad, Gylias |
| Owner | ATV Ass. |
Official website | http://www.atv.gls/ |
| Language | Official and regional languages of Gylias |
Associated Television (French reformed: Télévision Associée), abbreviated ATV (TVA), is a consortium of Gylian regional and local television companies, which operate a collective television network. It was established in 1960 as a regional-focused counterpart to Gylian Television, and was its main private competitor throughout its monopoly.
ATV is a loose network that broadcasts free-to-air and operates non-commercially. It operates 21 franchises in Gylias, regulated and awarded by the National Broadcasting Office every 5 years. Shared programmes are displayed on the entire network through deferred transmission. Its sources of funding include individual and company donations, and grants made by regional and municipal governments towards certain member companies.
History
ATV was founded in 1960. Its purpose was to strengthen independent television locally, in counterpart to the GNBS' federal monopoly. Its non-profit, non-commercial organisation was seen as a preferable alternative to commercial broadcasting as practiced elsewhere in Tyran.
As a technicality to avoid classification as a national network (and thus violating GTV's monopoly), ATV adopted a policy of deferred transmission: shared programmes would be first aired in their original and neighbouring regions before being aired in the other regions the following day.
Compared to GTV's mandate as a public broadcaster, ATV's organisation allowed it to focus on serving regional audiences. Each regional service had its own on-screen identity, and some companies developed strong identities related to the regions they served. ATV found notable success with more specialised programming such as local news, sports, and educational and language-learning programmes.
The establishment of regional governments in 1970 provided an additional benefit to ATV. Regional governments could now allocate grants to particular broadcasters, contributing funding and shaping local cultural policy.
Additional services were added, including teletext in 1981 and breakfast television in 1984.
After GTV's monopoly ended in 1991, minor changes took place. Late-night programming increased in response to competition from 24-hour channels like 5, with late-night service licenses being first awarded in 1995.
Organisation
The ATV network is a decentralised consortium of licensees providing regional services and programmes, constituted as an association. License holders have joint ownership and democratic control.
All stations and production companies that are part of ATV are cooperatives organised by workers' self-management.
ATV regulations prevent a single broadcaster from gaining a monopoly over its broadcasting, and have created an internal dynamic based on both cooperation and competition that has shaped its identity and programming.
The NBO awares ATV licenses every 5 years and publishes yearly reports on franchise holders' performance. Applicants must show good programming ideas and financial planning to be considered for a license. Franchise-holding companies are not allowed to consolidate with each other or collude in anti-competitive practices.
All licensees have the right to opt out of network programming in favour of local content.
Licenses
There are 21 licenses: 20 regional (one for every region) and 1 national license (breakfast television). Regional licenses are divided into three separately awarded services: weekday, weekend, and late night. The result is a total of 61 service licenses.
Licenses are awarded every 5 years, and commence on 1 March. All current licenses were last awarded or renewed in 2015.