site.btaBTA Sets Example for Other Public Media, GERB-UDF MP Toma Bikov Says

The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) has developed in a way that should serve as an example for other public media, GERB-UDF MP Toma Bikov said during Parliament's debate on BTA's 2025 annual report on Thursday. The report was presented by BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.

Bikov praised BTA's development and said Parliament had established a tradition of supporting the agency's annual reports.

He argued that the Radio and Television Act, in force since 1999, is outdated and should be revised to improve the operation of Bulgaria's other public media. Unlike BTA, whose director general is elected by the National Assembly, the directors general of Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) are appointed by the Council for Electronic Media (CEM).

According to Bikov, BTA began to develop successfully after Parliament required the agency to provide its news free of charge while compensating it through the state budget. He said similar reforms should be considered for the country's other public media.

Bikov also criticized the broadcasting of gambling advertisements during the FIFA World Cup on BNT, arguing that public television should not promote gambling.

He added that Bulgaria's three public media organizations play an important role at a time of growing propaganda.