25. 01. 2014

GOVERNMENT APPROVES BUDGET FUNDS FOR RTS AND RTV, BUT TV SUBSCRIPRION NOT ABOLISHED

Belgrade, January 25, 2014 (Nase novine) - Although the Government of Serbia adopted the Decree on Temporary Financing of Public Service Broadcasters  - the Broadcasting Institution of Serbia and the Broadcasting Institution of Vojvodina form the budget, the TV subscription has not been abolished. In other words, those who have rejoiced , thinking that they will have more money in the family budget, were wrong. This was confirmed for our newspaper by the Deputy Minister of Culture Sasa Mirkovic.

- Adoption of the Decree on Temporary Financing of Public Service Broadcasters, did not terminate the TV subscription because its existence is based on the exisitng Law on Broadcasting. To change the method of funding, without presuming the decision, we must wait until the adoption of the Law on Electronic Media, which will determine the future funding of public services broadcasters at national and provincial level - said Mirkovic.

According to unofficial information from the Serbian government, the decree was passed so that money could be used from the 2014 budget.

On the other hand, most of the citizens of Serbia have stopped paying the TV subscription last year after an announcement by the politicians that it will soon be abolished. Because of this, in the last few months this legal obligation was met by only 25 percent of all households in Serbia, which significantly hinders the operation of public service broadcasters and therefore the Government had to react and set aside money for their operation.