13. 05. 2013

RTS AND RTV OFF BUDGET AS OF 2016

Belgrade, May 13, 2013 (Danas) - RTS and RTV will be financed from the state budget by December 31, 2015.

Both public service broadcasters are obliged to submit by June 2015 their proposals of sustainable model of financing to the responsible ministry, as provided in the Draft Law on Public Media Services, which had unexpectedly emerged last week.

In the last version of the document, annual amount of funds to be allocated in the budget for public service broadcasters will be paid in 12 installments, while the monthly amount will be determined in the contract between public services and Serbian Government.

Implementation of the financial plan and use of budget funds would be controlled by the independent regulatory body for electronic media. According to this proposed law, in addition to financing from the budget, public services will be allowed to earn from "advertising revenues, publishing and commercial activities".

Although the Media Strategy has foreseen forming of regional public service broadcasters, the Draft of this law provides for only two public services - republic and provincial, namely RTS and RTV respectively.

Despite the fact that the public discussion on the Draft of this law was envisaged for May 8, it has not started yet. The delay occurred when the members of the working group, drafting the law on electronic media, were offered on May 7 to sign two separate laws instead of one - the Law on Electronic Media and the Law on Public Services. As they refused to approve it, it remains to be seen which version they will sign in the end.