Bosnia’s three public broadcasters face the prospect of going off the air from April 26 due to arguments over the way they are funded.
According to Balkan Insight, the method of financing for Radio Television of Bosnia & Herzegovina (BHRT), Radio Television of the Federation of B&H (RTVFBiH) and Radio Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS) – currently through landline phone bills – expires on that date.
The communications minister Slavko Matanovic and the broadcasters have asked parliament to pass a temporary law allowing this method of funding to continue for a further six months, during which a new broadcasting law can come into effect.
However, there has been strong opposition voiced to both pieces of legislation in parliament.
BHRT currently receives 80% of its income from radio and TV licence taxes.
