Baku: Azerbaijan has halted the broadcast of the Russian channel “Match TV” following appeals from citizens and regulatory actions taken by the Audiovisual Council. Citizens had raised concerns about the removal of several sports television channels from retransmission packages, prompting the Audiovisual Council to investigate the matter.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, retransmission of foreign television channels in Azerbaijan is governed by the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Media.” Multiplex and platform operators are required to present documents such as contracts, agreements, or licenses to the Audiovisual Council to gain the right to retransmit foreign channels. The Audiovisual Council has been actively ensuring compliance with this law through meetings with operators and issuing recommendations.
The Audiovisual Council’s recent monitoring activities, conducted from late 2024 to March 2025, identified violations by over 20 operators, resulting in administrative offense protocols. The courts fined each operator 5,000 manats for these violations. Investigations further revealed that certain sports channels lacked the necessary broadcasting rights within Azerbaijan. Local broadcasters have exclusive rights to air specific international sports competitions, and unauthorized retransmission by foreign channels undermines these rights.
The Audiovisual Council emphasized that pirate broadcasting of foreign channels, such as “Match TV,” harms the economic interests and legally protected rights of local broadcasters. It also damages Azerbaijan’s reputation in the media sector. In response, the council mandated operators to stop broadcasting unauthorized channels by June 1, 2025, with legal repercussions for non-compliance.
The council reiterated the importance of valid documentation for foreign channel retransmission and announced plans for ongoing monitoring. The findings of these efforts will be shared with the public to maintain transparency and uphold media regulations.