OREANDA-NEWS. On April 10, a press conference was held on the separation of ATV International TV channel from Azad Azerbaijan Television (ATV) and its operation under SOCAR Media Public Union.

 ATV president Mr. Vugar Garadaghli stated that ATV International covered the socio-political events of the region and gained huge achievements in this regard. As ATV International is not a commercial project, the channel encountered problems with expansion and provision of modern technology. In this connection, the TV station approached the SOCAR. From now on ATV-International will work under SOCAR Media Public Union.

Speaking at the event, SOCAR vice-president and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SOCAR-Media Mr. Khalik Mammadov noted that the Company’s mission is to operate in accordance with the standards of the transnational companies and hold a decent position in the global oil and gas markets. In this regard, the company has carried out a number of reforms, expanded the company's scope of activity in the region and in Europe. For providing media support to the procedure, SOCAR Media Public Union NGO was established under SOCAR. The proposals were estimated by the Board of Directors of the PU. As he mentioned, the SOCAR Media Public Union will not have any obligations to the oil company. According to Mr. Mammadov, the TV channel will be provided with modern technologies and become the leading television of the region. The channel will be led by the journalist Azer Khalilov. He said ATV International will be renamed as CBC (Caspian Broadcasting Company). The channel will attach great importance to the national idea, ideology of tolerance and promote Azerbaijan in the world, Azer Khalilov said. Mr. Khalilov said programs currently broadcasted in Azerbaijani and foreign languages will be continued. According to him, 10% of the telecasting will go in Azerbaijani and 90% - in the languages of region countries.