• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

Crunch time for Bosnian pubcaster

June 13, 2017 08.11 Europe/London By Chris Dziadul

The international community is coming together in a last ditch attempt to save the Bosnian public broadcaster BHRT.

According to the EBU, it, along with BHRT, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Journalist Association, the Council of Europe, the Office of the OSCE Representative of Freedom of the Media, the European Federation of Journalists and the South East Europe Media Organisation will host a conference today (Tuesday, June 13) at the offices of BHRT.

In a statement, the EBU says that urgent action needs to be taken to reform the media laws and secure adequate and sustainable funding for PSM or Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is likely to become the only country in Europe without a national public service broadcaster.

It adds that growing political fragmentation in BiH has worked against the existence of the PSM system in its current form and the reforms to the media law that were initially envisaged have never been realised.

Against this backdrop, BHRT has accumulated substantial debts of around €20 million over many years. Erosion of the licence fee, a weak collection system and substantial payment arrears from regional broadcast partners have left it at threat of imminent closure. The model for collecting the licence fee in BiH – through telephone bills – expired a year ago and the government have been unable to agree on a long-term solution for funding PSM.

The EBU argues that the collapse of PSM in BiH would have a devastating effect, not only on the media system, but on a society already split with ethnic divisions.

EBU DG Ingrid Deltenre said: “Strong PSM is the bedrock of democratic societies. We urge authorities in BiH to take urgent action to safeguard the future of PSM so it can play an active role in promoting and reinforcing democracy, fostering ethnic tolerance and ensuring social cohesion”.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Central & East Europe, Newsline Tagged With: BHRT, Bosnia & Herzegovina, EBU Edited: 13 June 2017 08:11

About Chris Dziadul

Chris is our Central & East Europe Editor. You can talk to Chris on Twitter @chrisdziadul or by email at cdziadul@broadbandtvnews.com

Latest News

  • Regulator explains Serbian TV licence awards
  • Digital TV Cyprus and FAST Channels TV to launch FAST channels
  • JWP launches new scalable video platform
  • Mixed fortunes for Türk Telekom
  • CMA to investigate Inmarsat takeover

Watch Video

Xperi on using AI to identify your audience – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Patrick Byrden, Xperi's VP of Business Development & Strategy, tells Julian Clover how the company is using AI to detect who is watching the TV, and providing them with more relevant content. … [Watch Now ...]

EKT backing RDK – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Jill Mulder, VP Marketing, EKT discusses how viewing habits and the role of the operator is changing and why EKT now backing RDK, with Broadband TV News editor Julian Clover. … [Watch Now ...]

Free Ebook

eBook: The Full Guide to IP Monitoring

IP is the future of your facility, if not already your everyday reality. It enables incredible agility and cost savings, but also introduces a new set of challenges. Read The Full Guide to IP Monitoring to learn about the best practices for IP monitoring in live production, playout and OTT and the methods to help you to reduce complexity in these workflows. … [Download the eBook...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2022 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in