Statement of "Media Group Ukraine" regarding the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada deputies to the President on the introduction of a moratorium on the encoding of the satellite television signal of Ukrainian TV channels, which took place on January 28, 2020. "Encoding the satellite signal of Ukrainian TV channels is a logical, civilized step in the development of the media market. Around the world, television groups are redistributing revenues: advertising sales revenues are being replaced by user subscription revenues. Our channels are independent commercial broadcasters that conduct the same economic activity as all other businesses, without receiving subsidies from the state, and independently invest in the creation of programs, shows, series, development of technical facilities, and payment of salaries to more than a thousand employees. At the same time, we understand how important it is for our compatriots to have access to verified information. Media Group Ukraine has launched and leaves the satellite signal of the information channel "Ukraine 24" unencoded, which will be available throughout the country, including in temporarily occupied territories. This is our contribution to the country's information security. For viewers who find themselves in temporarily occupied territories, the state is creating a special TV channel, and, understanding the importance of such communication, we are ready to provide our best content for this broadcaster free of charge: our prime-time series, shows, football broadcasts with the participation of Ukrainian teams. By encoding the television signal on the satellite, or rather - changing the encoding to a more secure option, we are essentially fulfilling the requirements of the license issued to us by the state, as well as the requirements of copyright holders who sell us the rights to use certain content. This is a stable, legally formalized model of interaction between the state and broadcasters in the media market, as well as a standard practice of the global content distribution market, aimed at combating piracy. Satellite broadcasting is a right, not an obligation of commercial broadcasters. National Ukrainian TV channels, having received licenses for digital terrestrial broadcasting, have already undertaken the obligation to distribute content free of charge. And this obligation is being fulfilled - viewers can watch 32 channels, both entertainment and information, free of charge using T2 transmitters. By calling for "the introduction of a moratorium", the elected officials propose to make an unjustified interference in the economic activities of commercial entities. Approximately the same thing could be done by proposing to mobile operators to provide their services free of charge, and only to a certain part of users. We want to emphasize once again that viewers have not lost the opportunity to watch Ukrainian TV channels. They have lost the opportunity to watch certain channels free of charge using a certain technology. The viewer still has the opportunity, thanks to the T2 technology - digital terrestrial TV, to continue using the service for free. Or to access the content of any TV channel, becoming a subscriber of one of the program service providers based on a convenient technology (cable, OTT, DTH). We, Media Group Ukraine, are always open to constructive dialogue and hope that such categorical measures as a moratorium cannot be introduced in a democratic country without regard to the arguments of all parties. We are grateful to the President for the opportunity to present the position of television groups. The development of the media industry is possible only on the basis of balanced, civilized solutions."