23. 11. 2005

EPS WON’T CUT THE POWER

BELGRADE, November 23, 2005 – Annoyed with the “forced” introduction of TV subscription, a large number of citizens have already decided not to pay the “impost” to the national television, but only the electricity bill. The Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) says it will sanction those who do not pay TV subscription fee. “The citizens will get the single bill with two separate headings. The money paid for the electricity will go directly to EPS, while the money paid for the subscription will be directed to the RTS account. If the citizens pay only the electricity bill, we are obliged to report it to Radio Television Serbia, and they would probably take further legal measures against those who failed to pay the subscription fee. EPS surely won’t cut the power to those citizens who did not pay the subscription to the national television”, EPS noted. On the other hand, RTS stated that for the past few weeks the dailies have been criticizing such way of financing of the public service, calling it “impost”, but regardless of numerous critics and pressures, they will do their job the best they can. The Independent Union Organisation and RTS Journalists’ Union however stated the subscription had not been introduced to increase the salaries of RTS journalists, but to improve the production and broadcast of higher quality and diverse program. “There is just not enough money for that at this point, so the program is as it is. However, the audience share is satisfactory, and it must be significant when the surveys show that people are watching us and they like what we do”, said - as they call themselves – anonymous professionals, passionately committed to their jobs. However, the unions stress that the more money people give, the better program would be made. “The anonymous professionals” noted that they were motivated and willing to commit themselves to the improvement of the program quality, which they have already proved by building the “house from ashes” after the “Merciful angel” or October 5-revolutionaries, who had demolished everything on their way from Abardareva to Takovska street. “Our transmitters were demolished to pieces, but we have managed to restore them from the parts that were not destroyed”, remind the RTS employers. Lawyer Sava Andjelkovic explained that the Broadcast Act was imprecise in provisions on the rights and obligations of citizens and legal entities, regarding the payment and exemption from payment of TV subscription. He confirmed that these provisions set up several different grounds for payment. “The rights of citizens and companies to complain are not utterly clear, nor the deadlines for submitting the complaints. There is also another unclear matter, for example which committee or other body would review and decide on the complaints. Anyhow, I would advise all citizens unsatisfied with the method in which the subscription is introduced and legal entities who believe they must pay more (not just one subscription fee), to file suit. The citizens, who believe that they should be exempt from payment, but have no money for the legal expenses, should file the request for exemption from payment of court costs, on the basis of deficiency right”, said Andjelkovic. The Act also envisages the fines for citizens and legal entities who failed to report the procurement of radio or TV receiver, reaching the sum of yearly costs of TV subscription. The Article 81 of the Broadcast Act cites the ownership of TV receivers and the possibility to follow TV and radio program as the grounds for TV subscription charge. However, it is not clear whether the subscription will be charged by the number of power meters or the number of employees, receivers and so on. The Act stipulates one TV subscription fee for every 20 employees in position to follow TV program. This implies that they do not need to be the owners of a TV receiver, but will pay subscription just because they have the possibility to watch the program. This provides for many legal entities to file complaint about the TV subscription charge.