11. 02. 2013

GOOD PUBLIC SERVISE COSTS A LOT

Belgrade, February 11, 2013 (Blic) - Everyone would want a good public service, but it seems that no one is ready to do what it takes to help the public service broadcaster to survive.

The TV subscription fee collection rate is way below 40 percent at the state level, however, the RTS General Manager Aleksandar Tijanic does not see it as the fact that people do not want public service.

"The percentage in Belgrade is 63, while even 70 in Novi Sad. This means that people do want their public service broadcasting. In the time of good fee collection rate, before the crisis, Belgrade was also at 70 percent and RTS' revenues from TV subscription fee and advertising were 106 million Euros. Last year, that figure was only 67 million Euros", Tijanic said.

Last week, the Government approved the 1.8 million Euro loan to RTS, which is, however, rather small amount to serve the needs of the system employing 4000 members of staff, Symphonic orchestra, for choirs, over 30 corresponding offices around the world etc.

The state, on the other hand, is incapable of finding the system of collecting TV subscription fee that would ensure financial stability of the public service broadcaster. One of the propositions was to use the principle that had shown results in Croatia, where the fee was collected as a form of tax. All tax payers would have their personal tax number that would be used to control income. In case a person does not pay the subscription fee, this amount would be automatically withdrawn from the account. The HRT budget, however, is around 240 million Euros.

Financial independence of the public service broadcaster would provide for its editorial independence as well, which is not something the government is thrilled with, according to Omer Karabeg, long time editor of the TV Beograd news bulletin and journalist wokring for the Prague Radio "Free Europe" for over two decades.