The Bosnian public broadcaster BHRT plans to suspend broadcasting at the end of June.
According to Vijesti, this is a direct consequence of its financial difficulties, with the station being owed BAM25 million (€12.7 million) by RTV BiH (BAM16.5 million) and RTRS (BAM8.8 million), for which it acts as an unbrella body.
As previously reported by Broadband TV News, the EBU has expressed serious concerns about BHRT, which owes it over CHF6 million (€5.41 million) and faces the prospect of collapse.
In her latest comment on the situation, EBU DG Ingrid Deltenre said: “We very much hope that the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina recognises the seriousness of the situation and not only commences the necessary reform of the licence fee, but also takes immediate and urgent measures to allow BHRT to continue operations and pay back its debts.”
She continued: “We believe that a strong public service media is the cornerstone of a stable democracy and key to social cohesion. It is indicative of a state’s freedom and media plurality. We urge the European Commission and the international institutions to back us in calling on the Bosnia Herzegovinian government to come up with a credible and long-term solution to funding public service media in the country and supporting this nascent democracy.”
