Public Television

What Public Television does

Public Television Company of Armenia, also known as First Channel, is the national public broadcaster of Armenia, founded on November 29, 1956, and headquartered at 26 G. Hovsepyan Str. in the Nork district of Yerevan. The company operates three Armenian-language channels — First Channel News (domestic), First Channel International (satellite-delivered via HotBird 13C at 13.0°E for Europe), and First Channel America (via Galaxy 19 at 97°W and digital terrestrial CH18.10/CH20.5 in Los Angeles) — reaching Armenian-speaking audiences in Armenia, Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Core programming includes the Haylur news program (multiple daily bulletins), cultural and entertainment content, children's programming, public affairs, and exclusive Eurovision Song Contest coverage as Armenia's sole European Broadcasting Union member since 2005.

The underlying technology stack combines digital broadcasting infrastructure with satellite transmission, Avid editing and video server systems (acquired 2014), Armenia's first virtual studio (2005), and a Livestreaming CDN supporting live web delivery and native iOS/Android applications. Content is distributed through cable partners (Ucom, RT Armenia, Verizon, Orange) and digital terrestrial transmission, supplemented by the 1lurer.am news portal and the Media Academy, a free vocational training program that has graduated 283 students since inception, of which 61 were hired directly by the broadcaster.

Public Television is state-owned and operates under a public service mandate rather than a commercial ownership model. Revenue is generated through a dual model of advertising sales (operated via a dedicated [email protected] department) and government/public funding. The company also generates indirect commercial value through its industry training pipeline and its role as the exclusive Armenian Eurovision broadcaster. No private equity, venture capital, or institutional investment signals are present in the available data, consistent with its character as a statutory public broadcaster rather than a commercially held media company.

Name

Public Television

Legal name

Public Television Company of Armenia

Website

https://1tv.am

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Public Television Company of Armenia is the state-owned national public broadcaster operating three Armenian-language channels (News, International, America) plus the Media Academy training program, serving domestic Armenian audiences and the global diaspora via satellite, cable, and digital platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

24/7 National & International News Channels (MPABAIAA), Satellite Video & Media Distribution (DTH, Contribution/Distribution, Occasional Use) (HDAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Public television broadcasting
• Satellite television services
• News broadcasting
• Digital terrestrial TV
• Media education training

Headquarters

HQ city

Yerevan

HQ country

Armenia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Advertising sales: The station sells advertising slots during programming. Dedicated advertising department with phone +374 93 555000 and email [email protected].
2. Government/public funding: As Armenia's public broadcaster, the station likely receives public funding in addition to commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Public Television operates Armenia's national public broadcasting service through three free-to-air television channels — First Channel News (domestic Armenian audience), First International Channel (satellite-delivered to the Armenian diaspora worldwide via HotBird 13C), and First Channel America (delivered via Galaxy 19 and digital terrestrial TV to US viewers). Programming spans news, public affairs, cultural, educational, children's, sports, and entertainment content, complemented by live streaming on 1tv.am, the 1lurer.am news portal, and native iOS and Android applications.

Product overview

Public Television (Հանրային Հեռուստաընկերություն) operates as a multi-channel public broadcaster offering television programming through three distinct channels: the First Channel (main national channel), the First International Channel (satellite-based diaspora channel), and First Channel America (US-targeted variant). The core product portfolio includes the Haylur news program with multiple daily broadcasts, live streaming via live.1tv.am, a mobile news application for iOS and Android, the Media Academy educational initiative, and comprehensive TV scheduling. The company provides satellite-based international coverage via HotBird 13C and Galaxy 19, and terrestrial broadcasting in Armenia and the US, supported by digital archiving capabilities and distribution through cable providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Media Academy: Free courses for those wishing to specialize in television, offering contemporary television education taught by industry professionals, combining theoretical knowledge with practical work
• First Channel News
• First Channel International
• First Channel America

Products and services

• First Channel (Առաջին ալիք) The main Armenian-language national television channel providing general entertainment, news, documentaries, and cultural programming to viewers in Armenia.
• Haylur News (Լուրեր) Armenian-language news program broadcast multiple times daily with comprehensive coverage of domestic and international events.
• First International Channel (Առաջին միջազգային ալիք) International satellite channel broadcasting Armenian programming to diaspora communities worldwide via HotBird 13C at 13.0°E.
• First Channel America (Առաջին ալիք Ամերիկա) Channel variant targeting Armenian diaspora in the United States, broadcast via satellite Galaxy 19 at 97°W and digital terrestrial TV in Los Angeles.
• News App (Լուրեր հավելված) Mobile news application providing access to live broadcasts, news content, and on-demand videos for iOS and Android devices.
• Media Academy (Մեդիա ակադեմիա) Free educational program offering courses for those wishing to specialize in television, with contemporary television education taught by industry professionals combining theoretical knowledge with practical work; 283 graduates trained and 61 employed at Public Television.
• Live Streaming (live.1tv.am) Live streaming portal providing real-time access to all broadcast channels including news, international, and America variants.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Broadcasting Union (EBU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2005In July 2005, Public Television Company of Armenia became a full member of the EBU at the 56th General Assembly in Dubrovnik. As a result, the station broadcast the 50th anniversary celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest and subsequently gained the right to participate in and broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest.
• UcomminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUcom cable provider distributes First Channel content to its subscribers in Armenia through its uTV service.
• RT ArmeniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRT Armenia distributes First Channel programming through its cable network.
• OrangeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrange (France) distributes the First Channel as part of its cable package in France.
• VerizonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVerizon FiOS TV network distributes First Channel America to subscribers in the USA.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• France 24: French state-funded international news broadcaster broadcasting in multiple languages via satellite, cable, and digital. Comparable as a publicly funded international broadcaster targeting diaspora and global audiences with general-interest and news programming.
• BBC World Service: UK's international public broadcaster with news and cultural programming distributed globally via satellite, cable, and digital. Comparable in public funding model, EBU membership, multilingual diaspora focus, and emphasis on news and cultural content.
• Al Jazeera: Qatar-funded international broadcaster with multiple channels and strong satellite distribution across the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Comparable as a state-backed international broadcaster with news-heavy programming and global diaspora reach.
• NHK World: Japan's public broadcaster with a dedicated international satellite channel targeting Japanese-speaking diaspora globally. Comparable in operating multiple channels (domestic general-interest + international satellite) under a public broadcasting mandate.
• Deutsche Welle: Germany's international public broadcaster, distributed globally via satellite, cable, and digital. Comparable in public funding model, multilingual international reach, and emphasis on news, culture, and educational programming for diaspora audiences.
• RT (Russia Today): Russian state-funded international broadcaster distributed via satellite and cable to global audiences, including Armenian-speaking markets. Comparable in state ownership, multi-language satellite distribution, and editorial positioning tied to a national narrative.
• Voice of America: US government-funded international broadcaster with multi-language programming distributed via satellite, FM affiliates, and digital. Comparable in state funding, satellite-based diaspora reach, and news-centric programming model.

Direct peers

• ARMTV (Armenia Public TV): Armenia's second public broadcaster, operating as a direct domestic competitor to Public Television. Both serve Armenian-speaking audiences with general-interest programming and have competed for advertising and public funding.
• Shant TV: Armenian-American satellite television broadcaster targeting the Armenian diaspora in the United States via cable and satellite. Comparable as an Armenian-language broadcaster with significant US diaspora audience overlap with Public Television's First Channel America.

Regional players

• Georgian Public Broadcaster: National public broadcaster of neighboring Georgia with similar mandate structure (state-owned, EBU member, multi-channel operations including international satellite feeds). Highly comparable in scale and operating model within the South Caucasus public broadcasting ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArmPublicTV
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSnr4wFDHDZZMeeHQvaHpjA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArmPublicTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/armpublictv
• Instagraminstagram.com/ArmPublicTV

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Television