The EBU has voiced its concern at the continued indebtedness of Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), which now owes the organisation over CHF6 million (€5.41 million).
In a statement, it says that with Euro 2016 approaching, it is unable to continue pre-financing sports rights on behalf of the broadcaster. It adds that it will no longer be able to fund sports rights and offer additional member services to BHRT unless a solution to the funding crisis can be found by the end of the month.
The EBU says that BHRT is facing financial collapse due to insufficient and insecure funding, which prevents it from meeting its public service remit.
The organisation has met with government officials numerous times over the last two years to attempt to resolve funding issues and has been working with BHRT to establish a payment plan to reduce the level of debt. Unfortunately neither of these initiatives have been successful to date.
According to EBU DG Ingrid Deltenre, “We believe strong public service media is important to social cohesion and a key ingredient to nation building. However we are a not-for-profit Member organisation and we cannot allow the debts of BHRT to continue to accumulate at the expense of fellow broadcasters across Europe.
“We will continue to work with BHRT and the state to try and resolve their financial difficulties and find a long term solution to funding PSM in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
The EBU finishes by saying that the issue was discussed last week at a conference in Sarajevo entitled The Future of Public Services in the Western Balkans: Never-Ending Transition.
