ANEM: Telekom Allowed Signal Hijacking and the Name TV Forum, and Rebroadcasting of Informer

The abuse of signals and the name of TV Forum, a member of ANEM, occurred on the day when the "Students' List – Students Win" had a promotion in Prijepolje. However, viewers were only able to watch Informer's media coverage of the rally of the "United Serbia" list from Čačak instead of reports from that event.

ANEM warns that such actions indicate a possible scenario and model for the blackout and elimination of independent media from the airwaves before and after the elections on October 25. The seizure and termination of signals, the airing of regime-affiliated media without licenses, and other forms of jeopardizing media freedoms and violating laws are attempts by the authoritarian regime to influence citizens' decisions through companies and media under its control in the final days of the election campaign.

We remind that the law requires the cable operator, in this case, Supernova owned by Telekom, to ensure the rebroadcasting of programs of those television stations that have a terrestrial signal, such as TV Forum. This independent television station from Prijepolje has proper documentation and a signed contract with the operator. In addition to violating several legal provisions and contractual terms, TV Forum has also suffered significant reputational damage, as viewers following the program on the Supernova channel suspected that this independent media outlet had "sold out" a week before the elections, changed its editorial policy, and "shifted to a more tabloid side."

TV Forum stated that the reactions from citizens show how important this media outlet is to them following the change on the Supernova channel. “The editorial team and our journalists received a large number of calls and messages from concerned viewers who noticed that instead of our program, different content was being aired. These reactions demonstrated that citizens are following our program, that they notice when it is unavailable, and that it is important for them to know what content they are watching. It is particularly concerning that users, seeing the name TV Forum on the channel list, may be misled regarding the identity of the broadcast program. This situation concerns not only our editorial team but also the rights of viewers to clear and accurate information about the media content provided to them," stated the colleagues from TV Forum in Prijepolje.

They also noted that they had not received an official explanation regarding the reasons for the interruption of broadcasting on the Supernova channel, nor information about why another program was aired on that independent television channel.

ANEM also demands that the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) protect independent media service providers, warn against, and stop the practice of airing media without operating licenses. As a rule, Telekom Srbija airs regime-affiliated media without broadcasting licenses, as is the case with Niš TV, or by unlocking the Antena Plus package, which enables free access to the television channels Informer, Blic, and Kurir, even though these channels do not have terrestrial licenses for national coverage, effectively allowing them to be aired "overnight" outside legal procedures.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)