Council for Electronic Media concluded the interviews with the candidates for Director General of public service broadcaster BNT

The Council for Electronic Media (CEM) concluded the interviews with the candidates for the post of Director General of the Bulgarian National Television. In two consecutive days all eight candidates for the post presented their concepts. Today, June 28, Emil Koshlukov, Venelin Petkov, Krasimir Angelov and Svetlana Bozhilova presented their vision for the development of the public service broadcaster. Yesterday, CEM held hearings with the other four candidates - Sasho Dikov, Irina Velichkova, Sasho Yovkov and Vasilena Matakeva.

Council for Electronic Media holds hearings with the candidates for BNT Director General (update)

The current director Emil Koshlukov's concept focused on investing in people, technological development, programme content and partnerships.

"Financial activity is important - financial discipline. We should not allow ourselves to experiment with budgets. People development - not only salaries, but qualifications as well. Development of studios, development of technical equipment and technology. Adaptation to consumer habits, technological development and programme content - that's what we work for," said Emil Koshlukov - candidate for Director General of BNT.

Venelin Petkov described BNT as "a sleeping giant that needs to wake up". He is convinced that the public service broadcaster should be a leader in the market. He said that he would work for decisions to be taken publicly.

"BNT should become a leader in the market. I propose an evolution, not a revolution. BNT has great creative potential. BNT has a great base. BNT can, with TV content, find its way to young audiences - make the transition from linear to internet. We need to create a video portal where all BNT content should be uploaded. A full financial audit of the contracts of the last years, a functional analysis of the positions and the jobs, said Venelin Petkov.

According to Krasimir Angelov, every manager wants to have confidence in the budget so that he is not attacked politically. He thinks that BNT needs to review the concepts of the programmes and the programming schemes every three years.

"First I will start with an audit through the National Audit Office. An important task is for BNT to regain credibility. There is a large resource that is not being used and I intend to use it through a planning system and the creation of a national newsroom for coordination. Also rebuilding the correspondent network in the country. Work will be done to streamline the various units, but without lay offs. At the moment the problem is low salaries and the insufficient staffing level is felt," said Krasimir Angelov, candidate for director general of BNT.

BNT should be a forum for dialogue - Svetlana Bozhilova would work for that. She thinks that a supervisory body is needed in the budget area. She is of the opinion that BNT 2 channel should continue to specialise in the field of culture and education.

"For me it is important to stress that BNT should be a forum for dialogue and debate. To explore the needs of the viewers. I want a discussion line every day of the week, not just one programme per week, like “Referemndum” - the audience needs to look for solutions. We need a serious investment in technology equipment. I plan to create a public council - 25 people from different areas, as well as an oversight body in the area of the budget," said Svetlana Bozhilova, candidate for director general of BNT.