16. 05. 2013

NO TV FEE AFTER JULY?

Belgrade, May 16, 2013 (Vecernje novosti) - How much money would be secured in the state budget for financing RTS should be known by Monday, daily Vecernje novosti reports.

The plan is to abolish TV subscription fee by July, when the Parliament goes to summer break, after which the public service broadcaster will start getting the funds from the state budget.

At this moment, two proposed laws have been formally tabled. It is almost likely that the first will not be adopted, as it foresees "attaching" TV fee to the electricity.

The Government will almost surely vote on the Law on Electronic Media, according to which the state will finance RTS in 12 monthly installments. This transition of RTS to state budget would be limited to two years, while the funds would be regarded as a state aid.

As the daily reports, the working version of the law provides for the obligation of this media to use these funds solely "in the interest of the public". However, the law will also provide for RTS to have revenues from advertising, music production, event organizations etc.

Although the text of the law has been formally ratified, the calculations are being made with the RTV Vojvodina.

According to the provincial Culture and Media Secretary Slavisa Grujic, the provincial public service broadcaster is deep in problems and is operating in difficult conditions with old equipment and less and less income from subscription.

RTV needs a stable financing, Grujic says, especially because it airs on 10 different languages. Abolition of TV subscription fee and financing from the state budget is simply not a good solution, as the media will lose its independence, Gruijc concludes.