09. 04. 2013

ISAKOV: TV FEE THE BEST WAY

Novi Sad, April 9, 2013 (Beta, RTV) - General Manager of Radio-television Vojvodina (RTV) Sinisa Isakov said today that the TV subscription fee was the best way of financing public service broadcasting, while all the other proposals that could have been heard these days had originated outside the Working Group preparing the set of media laws in Serbia.

Speaking at the press conference held in the Government of Vojvodina, Isakov warned that drastic fall in the collection rate of TV subscription fees of RTV could lead this broadcaster in the situation to end up without financial resources.

RTV Director said that the media sphere in Serbia had not significantly changed since 2007.

"As a result, the media in Serbia are devastated and in more and more difficult economic position. If such trend continues, Serbia will have even weaker and incapable media", Isakov said

Culture and Public Information Secretary of Vojvodina Slavisa Grujic said that the announced transition to budget financing of public service broadcasting to an indefinite period of time was contrary to the Law on Public Information, as in this way, the state would preserve its influence on public service broadcasters.

"We are in the situation where the state must financially support public services, but for a specific period of time, as otherwise, it is direct contradiction to the law", Grujic said.