{"id":8227,"date":"2017-06-06T01:46:05","date_gmt":"2017-06-06T01:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/media.am\/the-peoples-football-commentator\/"},"modified":"2017-06-06T01:46:05","modified_gmt":"2017-06-06T01:46:05","slug":"the-peoples-football-commentator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/media.am\/en\/newsroom\/2017\/06\/06\/8227\/","title":{"rendered":"The People\u2019s Football Commentator"},"content":{"rendered":"

They\u2019re choosing a football commentator in Armenia. There\u2019s a need to replenish the team of sports commentators of Armenia\u2019s First Channel, and the new commentator will be decided through a competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The first stage of the competition has been completed. Each participant has commented on a video of at least 15 minutes of any football match and sent it to the First Channel. These have been published on the First Channel\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>, where football fans have expressed their opinions through likes and comments.<\/p>\n

The commentators who received the most likes and positive comments have passed to the second stage. The selection at this stage will be done by a special committee.<\/p>\n

The winner, first of all, will have the opportunity to comment on any of the FIFA Confederations Cup matches and if successful, will complete the Public Television Company of Armenia\u2019s sports family.<\/p>\n

Public TV\u2019s Director of Marketing and Publicity Alexander Hakobyan, in conversation with Media.am, said, \u201cFootball has long stopped being just a game; it is a completely established institution \u2014 with the backbone significance of the commentator.\u201d That\u2019s why the First Channel\u2019s management decided to hold a competition for the most discussed and criticized profession. <\/p>\n

To the remark that perhaps the First Channel is transferring to TV viewers the responsibility to choose, since they are often dissatisfied with the quality of sports commentators, Hakobyan said, \u201cIt\u2019s not a matter of the need to put the responsibility on TV viewers, but to make them part of a process that many dream of. This is a unique opportunity to not only test their strength, but also create the image of the best sports commentator in the public\u2019s opinion or simply find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

No conditions or even educational qualifications were required of candidates. The First Channel considers it important that the winning candidate have an on-air voice, speak intelligently, possess sports knowledge, and be at ease.<\/p>\n

This competition is the third of its kind in the history of Armenian television. Two competitions were held in the 1960s: Suren Baghdasaryan, the founder and chief editor of the weekly paper Football+<\/em>, won both. It turns out he\u2019s the only commentator in Armenian television who was chosen through competition.<\/p>\n

The first competition was held in 1961. \u201cI was 21 years old. The committee was comprised of knowledgeable people. They took everything into account: the voice, first of all. I passed this competition, but it turns out that I was kept off the air for almost 8\u20139 years. They told me that they still had to work on me. I was born in Stepanakert; there was the effect of the dialect,\u201d Baghdasaryan told Media.am. <\/p>\n

During that time, he graduated from university and was accepted into the Mergelyan Institute, in the radio hub of which he prepared and hosted sports matches. \u201cI was trained. In 1969, when football athlete Levon Danielyan, who was simply adored, was seriously ill, they announced a new competition, and I already had tremendous experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u054d\u0578\u0582\u0580\u0565\u0576<\/p>\n

In 1969, the competition rules were as follows: the match of Ararat\u2019s replacements was broadcast, and every candidate was given five minutes to comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey let me talk for 15 minutes. But they didn\u2019t give me airtime for another year. They tried the old [commentators] again, but all failed. Ultimately, they decided to let me get on air,\u201d says the sports commentator. <\/p>\n