13. 09. 2011

56 pirate radio and TV stations

Belgrade, September 13, 2011. (Blic) - There are 56 radio and TV stations in Serbia that broadcast pirate program. The inspection of the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society is responsible for termination of the work of these station and it is expected to start its operations on September 19.   

The Director of RATEL, Milan Jankovic, said that number of stations that operate without license has increased in the last several months.  

Saying that there is 56 pirate broadcasters, out of which 10 TVs, Jankovic emphasized that RATEL, apart from control mechanisms, is not in charge of performing inspection which could ban their activities because it is delegated to the competent ministry according to the new Broadcasting Law.

Jankovic reminded that RATEL has two controlling centers, and that it submits the results of control to the Ministry and RBA. 

Illegal usage of radio-frequency spectrum creates inequality on the market, endangers the security of air-transport, but it also intervenes the work of legal broadcaster and other vital services that use this way of communication - Jankovic explained.

The Ministry provided the information that one inspector has been appointed and, if they do not receive any complaints on this procedure, this inspector will start to work in a week.

RBA is in charge for decreasing the number of pirate broadcasters. It could ban their work on the basis on the RATEL controller's report.

According to RBA spokesman Srboljub Bogdanovic, the practice has shown that the administrative procedure for issuing a ban could not be efficient in all situations.

There are certain cases when it is necessary to prevent an offender physically to continue with broadcasting the pirate program, by unabling the work of their equipment, for which RBA has no legal authority - Bogdanovic said.