The April war and the siege of the police station by the armed group “Daredevils of Sassoun” were the two most significant events of 2016, and they got the most views on online media platforms.

Judging by internal monitoring data, the army, Artsakh security, and internal issues remain among the most sensitive topics for an Armenian media user. On the other hand, with Hetq.am, three out of five most popular articles related to investigations.

Hereby, we present the most-read content provided to us by Aravot.am, Armtimes.com, A1plus.am, Civilnet, Hetq, Mediamax, News.am, and Tert.am.

Aravot.am

• The names of the killed Armenian soldiers are published: “We mourn but feel proud”
• What happened in Hadrut? Suren Sargsyan’s interview with Mr. Badasyan (video)
• Talish, a day after Azerbaijan’s invasion. A report by Photolur (Warning: graphic images)
• Adam told his friends to run away, was found dead afterward (a photo story from the funeral)
• Ministry of Defense does not deny that Armenian side lost some battle positions in the four-day war

Armtimes.com

• No more gazelle minibusses in Yerevan and combined tickets 
• Alone against the mafia
• 12-graders choose three subjects and prepare for exams
• The new Deputy Minister of Healthcare bikes to work
• The wounded hero Harutyun Badalyan kills 3 people in 7 minutes

A1plus.am

• A wounded soldier mother’s passport is taken away illegally
• Cars are sent back from Baghratashen checkpoint
• Protesters leave Baghramyan 
• Serzh Sargsyan has time until August 4, 18:00: Civilnet
• Live: Plainclothes policemen are beating people

Civilnet.am

• Frontline updates: April 3
• Frontline updates: April 4
• Martakert under heavy gunfire
• Frontline updates: April 5
• Interview with Hayk Marutyan from Khorenatsi street

Hetq

• Azerbaijani Soldiers Execute Elderly Armenian Couple in Artsakh; Then Cut Off Their Ears
• Karen from Kapan: Cooks, Cleans, Sews and Dreams of Restoring His Mom’s Sight
• Los Angeles Luxury for $35 Million: House Belonging to Sons of Armenia’s Minister of Finance on the Market

Mediamax

• Ruben Vardanyan: “We won’t get a second chance”
• “Kyazh from Victory Park neighborhood” – Artsakh Hero Robert Abajyan 
• Ruben Vardanyan: The recent war requires to speak openly 
• Georgi Arustamyan, the soldier who helped regain lost ground
• We need to learn how to love

News.am

• Photos of Azerbaijani officers killed near Mataghis village (+18)
• Azerbaijani violence in Karabakh’s Talish, civilians shot (18+) (PHOTO)
• Emergency Situations Minister of Armenia dies (PHOTOS)
• News from the frontlines
• The 23-year-old girl found three days later

Tert.am

• Azerbaijan resumes fire – official (update)
• 2 killed, 6 injured in rare bus blast in Armenia’s capital
• 21-year-old student’s suicide note
• Yerevan standoff: two members of armed group seriously wounded, life in danger
• Armed people take hostages in Armenia’s capital

Most of the websites also provided their youtube channel statistics. The data shows that live broadcasts on the armed group’s takeover of the police station and the events that followed, as well political interviews on these topics were the most popular among the Armenian audience.  

For example, A1plus youtube channel’s top 5 most viewed videos, without exception, were following events on Khorenatsi street. These were live broadcasts from the ground from July 20 to 26. 

• 20.07.16 Live from Khorenatsi street
• 26.07 Khorenatsi street, day 10
• 23.07.16 Journalists enter the seized police building
• 25.07 Khorenatsi street, day 9
• 22.07 Live from Erebuni

The most viewed videos from Civilnet youtube channel were again live broadcasts from the ground during the armed group’s siege of the police station. 

• LIVE from Khorenatsi street, July 20
• LIVE from Khorenatsi street, July 17
• LIVE from Khorenatsi street, July 22
• LIVE from Khorenatsi street, day 11

Other political events were at the center of attention for viewers of Aravot.

• Vahan Badasyan on Manvel Grigoryan
• Cursing Serzh Sargsyan (18+)
• Suren Sargsyan’s interview with Vahan Badasyan
• Suren Sargsyan’s interview with Ruben Hakhverdyan
• Suren Sargsyan’s exclusive interview with Vahan Badasyan

Gagik Aghbalyan