03. 04. 2013

KOLAREVIC: RTV FEE NO MORE

Belgrade, April 3, 2013 (EurActiv.rs, Beta) - Assistant Culture Minister Dragan Kolarevic said that new law on electronic media did not provide for the radio-television subscription fee, but financing of public media service broadcasting with budget funds.

RTS General Manager Aleksandar Tijanic noted that budget financing was one efficient solution, however, it would not contribute significantly to the development of public service broadcasting.

Media experts warn that new models of financing of public service broadcasting institutions in Serbia would jeopardize their independence.

Kolarevic said that more details would be available in a matter of seven to ten days, when the draft law on electronic media was planned to be finished and forwarded to public discussion and regular parliamentary procedure.

According to him, RTV subscription fee would be abolished, and new system of financing from the state budget would be introduced.

Public service broadcasting is financed in the countries in the region mainly with TV subscription fee or tax and revenues from advertising. Montenegro is the only country in which the public service broadcasting is financed directly from the budget. Average monthly fee for TV in the region is between 3 and 12 Euros.