# Public Broadcasting Council > Armenian government agency **Wikidata**: [Q13053356](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13053356) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/public-broadcasting-council ## Summary The Public Broadcasting Council (known in Armenian as Հանրային հեռարձակողի խորուրդ, transliterated as *Hanrayin heṛardzakoghi khorhurd*) is an Armenian government agency. It also operates under the alternative names Public Television and Radio Company Council and Council of Public TV and Radio. The agency is headquartered in Armenia, a sovereign state in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. ## Key Facts - **Entity Type**: Government agency — an organisational part of a government responsible for specific public services - **Country**: Armenia (sovereign state in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, independent since September 23, 1991) - **Official Website**: https://tvradiocouncil.am (available in multiple languages) - **Native Name**: Հանրային հեռարձակողի խորուրդ (Hanrayin heṛardzakoghi khorhurd) - **Alternative Names**: Public Television and Radio Company Council; Council of public TV and radio - **Wikipedia Presence**: Available in Armenian (hy), with 1 sitelink - **Host Nation Capital**: Yerevan - **Host Nation Government Type**: Unitary republic with a parliamentary system - **Host Nation Head of Government**: Nikol Pashinyan (since May 8, 2018) - **Host Nation Head of State**: Vahagn Khachatryan (since March 13, 2022) - **Host Nation Legislative Body**: National Assembly of Armenia - **Host Nation Official Language**: Armenian - **Host Nation Population**: 2,930,450 (2017 preferred value) ## FAQs ### What is the Public Broadcasting Council? The Public Broadcasting Council is a government agency of the Republic of Armenia. It is known natively as Հանրային հեռարձակողի խորուրդ and is also referred to as the Public Television and Radio Company Council or the Council of Public TV and Radio. ### Where is the Public Broadcasting Council located? The agency is based in Armenia, a landlocked sovereign state in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union on September 23, 1991, and its capital is Yerevan. ### What online presence does the Public Broadcasting Council have? The Council maintains a website at https://tvradiocouncil.am, which is available in multiple languages. It also has a Wikipedia article in the Armenian language (hy). ### Under what government system does the Public Broadcasting Council operate? Armenia functions as a unitary republic with a parliamentary system of government. The head of government is Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (in office since May 8, 2018), and the head of state is President Vahagn Khachatryan (in office since March 13, 2022). Legislative authority rests with the National Assembly of Armenia. ### What international frameworks is Armenia part of that may relate to the Council's work? Armenia is a member of numerous international bodies including the United Nations (since 1991), the Council of Europe (since 2001), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (since 1992), UNESCO (since 1992), and the European Broadcasting Union's regional frameworks through the Eastern Partnership (since 2009). ## Why It Matters The Public Broadcasting Council plays an institutional role within Armenia's government structure as an agency tasked with oversight or governance responsibilities related to public television and radio broadcasting. In a country that declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the establishment and operation of public broadcasting bodies represents a key element of democratic infrastructure — ensuring that state media operates under defined institutional governance rather than direct government control. Armenia's media landscape has evolved significantly since independence, with the country's democracy index at 5.49 in 2021 (classified as a hybrid regime) and its status rated as "partly free" by Freedom House. Public broadcasting councils in such contexts serve as potential guarantors of editorial independence, public accountability, and access to information. The existence of an Armenian-language Wikipedia article for the Council, alongside its multilingual website, suggests domestic relevance within Armenia's information ecosystem. Armenia's strategic position in the South Caucasus — bordering Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran — means its public broadcasting institutions also play a role in how the country presents itself domestically and internationally. With a population of approximately 2.93 million, an ethnic composition that is 98.1% Armenian, and a 100% literacy rate, the reach and impact of public broadcasting in Armenia is proportionally significant. ## Notable For - Operating as a government agency within Armenia's parliamentary republic system - Maintaining a multilingual web presence at tvradiocouncil.am - Carrying the native Armenian designation Հանրային հեռարձակողի խորուրդ - Functioning within one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations, in a country that was the first to adopt Christianity as a state religion (traditionally 301 AD) - Existing in a country with 100% literacy rate (as of 2011), indicating a highly literate public audience for broadcasting services - Operating within Armenia's unitary state structure, which comprises 10 provinces and the capital city of Yerevan ## Body ### Organizational Identity The Public Broadcasting Council is formally classified as a government agency of the Republic of Armenia. Its native name in Armenian is Հանրային հեռարձակողի խորուրդ, with the transliteration *Hanrayin heṛardzakoghi khorhurd*. The entity also operates under two recognized alternative names: "Public Television and Radio Company Council" and "Council of public TV and radio." These names suggest the body's remit covers oversight or governance of public television and radio broadcasting in Armenia. The Council maintains an official website at https://tvradiocouncil.am, which is noted as being available in multiple languages, reflecting Armenia's multilingual engagement needs despite having Armenian as its sole official language. The country also recognizes Western Armenian, Armenian Sign Language, Lomavren, Kurmanji (Kurdish), and North Azerbaijani as languages in use within its borders. ### National Context Armenia, where the Council is headquartered, is a sovereign state in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. The country declared independence from the Soviet Union on September 23, 1991. Its capital and largest city is Yerevan, which serves as the primary administrative and cultural center. Armenia covers an area of 29,743.423459 square kilometres and is located at coordinates 40.383333°N, 44.95°E. The country operates as a unitary republic with a parliamentary system. Key governmental figures include Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has served as head of government since May 8, 2018, following the Velvet Revolution, and President Vahagn Khachatryan, who has served as head of state since March 13, 2022. The National Assembly of Armenia functions as the legislative body. ### Government Framework As a government agency, the Public Broadcasting Council falls under the broader classification of organizations that are an "organisational part of a government responsible for specific public services." Armenia's government structure divides the country into 10 provinces (marzer) — Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak, Syunik, Tavush, and Vayots Dzor — plus the capital Yerevan as a separate administrative unit. The Council operates within this national governmental framework. ### Demographics and Audience Armenia's population was recorded at 2,930,450 as of 2017 (the preferred value in statistical records). The population has fluctuated significantly over time, from approximately 2.5 million in 1970 to a peak of around 3.6 million in 1988–1990, before declining due to the 1988 earthquake, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and emigration. As of 2022, the urban population was approximately 1.77 million and the rural population was about 1.01 million, with the male population at approximately 1.25 million and female population at approximately 1.53 million. The ethnic composition is overwhelmingly Armenian (98.1% as of 2011), with Yazidis constituting the largest minority at 1.1%. Armenia achieved a 100% literacy rate as of 2011, indicating a population fully capable of engaging with written and broadcast media content. ### Media and Communications Infrastructure Armenia's communications infrastructure includes the international calling code +374 and internet top-level domains .am and .հայ. The country operates in the UTC+4 timezone (Armenia Time). Electrical infrastructure runs on 220V at 50Hz. These technical standards are relevant context for any public broadcasting operations overseen or supported by the Council. ### International Affiliations Armenia holds membership in numerous international organizations that provide frameworks relevant to broadcasting and communications policy. These include the United Nations (since 1991), UNESCO (since 1992), the Council of Europe (since January 25, 2001), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (since January 30, 1992), the World Trade Organization (since February 5, 2003), and the Eastern Partnership (since 2009). Armenia also joined the International Criminal Court on October 3, 2023. ### Cultural and Linguistic Environment Armenia claims the distinction of being the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion, traditionally dated to 301 AD. The Armenian alphabet, created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD, underpins the country's literary and media traditions. The official religion is Christianity, with the Armenian Apostolic Church playing a central role in national identity. The national anthem is "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland). ### Data Presence The Public Broadcasting Council has a limited but established presence on structured knowledge platforms. It has 1 sitelink and is represented on Wikipedia in the Armenian language (hy). This limited multilingual coverage contrasts with Armenia's broader Wikipedia presence, which spans 346 sitelinks across languages.