05. 06. 2013

DECISION ON RTS AND RTV FINANCING ON SATURDAY

Novi Sad, June 5, 2013 (RTV) - How the financing of public media services RTV and RTS will be resolved and will the TV subscription fee remain or not, will all be decided on Saturday, at the meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Media and the first deputy prime minister Aleksandar Vucic, as RTV reports.

Following that, the Law on Electronic Media and Public Service Broadcasters will be put to public discussion, said the assistant culture minister Dragan Kolarevic.

After the announcement of the first deputy prime minister that the TV subscription fee would be abolished, the collection rate fell on 30 percent, despite the obligation provided by the law.

The intention of the Government representatives to put RTV and RTS on budget financing was criticized by the EU officials as well, saying it would be hardly doable in the current economic situation, and that it would enable the centers of power to influence and control the editorial policy of media.

Most of the countries in Europe finance their public service broadcasters through subscription fee or tax, deeming them their property and legacy of democracy, like in Croatia where, despite the crisis, 96 percent of population is paying the TV subscription fee.