İctimai Television

İTV is primarily funded through advertising and government payments.{{cite web|title=The Law of Azerbaijan Republic on Public TV-Radio Broadcasting|url=http://www.azerweb.com/laws/16/index.pdf|access-date=26 March 2014|year=2004|archive-date=22 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222102142/http://www.azerweb.com/laws/16/index.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal|last=Hajili|first=Rashid|title=Freedom of Media in Azerbaijan|journal=Spotlight on Azerbaijan|year=2012|page=41|url=http://fpc.org.uk/fsblob/1462.pdf|editor1-first=Adam|editor1-last=Hug|publisher=Foreign Policy Centre|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512181802/https://fpc.org.uk/fsblob/1462.pdf|archive-date=12 May 2012|url-status=dead}} The law of January 2004 creating the channel called for funding to come from a television licence fee beginning in January 2010,{{cite web|last=Golovanov|first=Dmitry|title=Azerbaijan : Public Broadcasting Introduced|url=http://merlin.obs.coe.int/iris/2006/1/article11.en.html|work=IRIS Legal Observations|publisher=European Audiovisual Observatory|access-date=26 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118023613/http://merlin.obs.coe.int/iris/2006/1/article11.en.html|archive-date=18 November 2006|url-status=dead}} but this portion of the law has currently yet to be implemented as of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.{{cite news|title=Funds for Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Company to be increased|url=http://en.apa.az/xeber_funds_for_azerbaijan_television_and_radi_201383.html|access-date=26 March 2014|newspaper=Azeri-Press Agency|date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022075514/http://en.apa.az/xeber_funds_for_azerbaijan_television_and_radi_201383.html|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=dead}}

The channel is operated by the Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company ({{Langx|az|İctimai Televiziya və Radio Yayımları Şirkəti|links=no}}), which consists of a nine member council whose members are approved by the President of Azerbaijan and a director general elected by the council and also approved by the President.{{cite web|title=Azeri parliament passes controversial broadcasting law|url=http://ijnet.org/opportunities/azeri-parliament-passes-controversial-broadcasting-law|work=International Journalists' Network|publisher=Sitemap International Center for Journalists|access-date=25 March 2014|date=16 January 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326150753/https://ijnet.org/opportunities/azeri-parliament-passes-controversial-broadcasting-law|archive-date=26 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

The company also operates the İctimai Radio public radio station, which commenced broadcasting on 10 January 2006. This arrangement, together with continued state financing, has been subject to criticism by non-governmental organizations because the channel may be too closely connected to the government to be fully independent and unbiased.{{cite book|title=Azerbaijan and the European Union: A Policy Dilemma|date=September 2013|publisher=Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety|page=17|access-date=26 March 2014|url=http://www.i-m-s.dk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/azerbaijan-and-the-eu-IRFS-IMS-2013.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326140242/http://www.i-m-s.dk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/azerbaijan-and-the-eu-IRFS-IMS-2013.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|last=Huseynov|first=Emil|title=Pluralism and Internet Governance|year=2012|publisher=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)|isbn=978-92-9234-642-3|page=90|url=http://www.osce.org/fom/90788|access-date=26 March 2014|format=PDF|chapter=Freedom of Expression in Azerbaijan: The Internet as the last island of freedom}}{{cite journal|last=Kazimova|first=Arifa|title=Media in Azerbaijan: The Ruling Family Dominates TV, the Opposition Has Some Papers|journal=Caucasus Analytical Digest|date=18 March 2011|issue=25|page=5|url=http://www.css.ethz.ch/publications/DetailansichtPubDB_EN?rec_id=1571|access-date=26 March 2014|publisher=Center for Security Studies|location=Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326150508/https://css.ethz.ch/publications/DetailansichtPubDB_EN?rec_id=1571|archive-date=26 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

İTV became a member of the European Broadcasting Union on 5 July 2007, allowing it to take part in events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, which it entered for the first time in 2008.{{cite news|last=Sand|first=Jon Ola|title=Winners All Around|url=http://www.thebusinessyear.com/publication/article/4/868/azerbaijan-2012/winners-all-round|access-date=26 March 2014|newspaper=The Business Year|date=January 2012}} Following Azerbaijan's win in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, İTV hosted the competition of 2012 in Baku.{{Cite web|url=https://www.live-production.tv/news/products/hd-production-vehicle-and-sngsupport-vehicle-ictimai-tv-azerbaijan.html|title=HD Production Vehicle and SNG/Support Vehicle for Ictimai TV Azerbaijan|date=4 April 2012|website=live-production.tv|accessdate=6 July 2021}}

The broadcaster was also supposed to host the Third Eurovision Dance Contest in Baku in 2009,{{cite web|last=Bakker|first=Sietse|title=Dance Contest 2009 to Baku, Azerbaijan|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1879|work=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=26 March 2014|date=2 February 2009}} but this event was postponed and eventually cancelled due to the lack of participants.{{Cite web|url=https://eurovisionary.com/eurovision-news/eurovision-dance-contest-2009-postponed-2010|title=Eurovision Dance Contest 2009 is Postponed to 2010|date=29 May 2009|website=eurovisionary.com|accessdate=29 December 2020}} The channel was created with a vision to reflect the national and spiritual values, national customs and traditions, culture and art. It operates in accordance with the laws of Azerbaijan.

İTV Logo.svg|2007–2013

İctimai TV logo (2013-2018).jpg|2013–2018

İctimai TV (2019-h.h.).png|2019–2020

File:Ictimai-radio-logo.png|İctimai Radio (2019–2021)

File:90FM Ictimai logo 1.png|İctimai Radio (2021–present)

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• [http://www.itv.az/ Official website] {{in lang|az}}

{{Television in Azerbaijan}}

{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ictimai Television}}

Category:Television stations in Azerbaijan

Category:Television networks in Azerbaijan

Category:Television production companies of Azerbaijan

Category:Azerbaijani-language television stations

Category:Publicly funded broadcasters

Category:European Broadcasting Union members

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2005

Category:2005 establishments in Azerbaijan

Category:State media