French group Lagardere, which operates two radio stations in Romania, Europa FM and Radio 21, intends to launch in the summer of 2007 two TV stations - Europa 1 TV and Europa 2 TV.

The group received yesterday from the National Broadcasting Council (CNA) the licenses for the two satellite television stations. One of the channels will be for general audiences and the other for children and teenagers. The two television stations will be operated by the company Europe Development International (EDI) Romania.

Cristina Zegheru, the EDI Romania vice president, said that although she knows that the television market in Romania is crowded and there are already many TV channels for general audience, the launch intended by Lagardere will contribute to the consolidation of the group's presence on the market and the improvement of the quality of television programming.
She said Europa 1 TV will be a general audience TV station of "European construction in which Romanian productions will have a special place. The other TV station will broadcast programs for children and teenagers until 11 p.m. and after that hour it will broadcast programs for the entire family, including art films and European productions. Zagheru said the investment amounts to around one million euros, adding the company will build two studios in northern Bucharest. She said that in the future the two studios will expand to include the production of TV series.

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