Concerns are mounting over the future of local TV stations in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) ahead of the country’s analogue switch off, due to take place on June 1.
Quoting a statement from the Association of Private Media, Balkan Insight reports that many do not have sufficient funds to go digital and may be forced to shut down.
Under existing rules, seven stations with national broadcasting licences will each have to pay €150,000 a year to the Slovenije Telekom-owned multiplex operator One, while 70 regional and local stations will have to pay €20,000 and also each invest €10,000 for digital equipment.
FYROM’s digitisation plan envisages the eventual use of four multiplexes and the adoption of the DVB-T2 standard.