Bosnia: Public broadcaster stops programming

The station is busy overall 780 employeesaround 60 percent of them work for a minimum wage (the KURIER has already reported on the grievances). This Thursday moved BHRT consequences and stopped his program in the morning hours. Since then, a black screen has been shown with warnings indicating that the station could be switched off permanently.

“Definitely the end”

Such a scenario would have far-reaching consequences: not only could outstanding salaries no longer be paid, but also state communications infrastructure the country would be on the verge of collapse.

According to its own information, the station is missing more than 51 million euros. The background is a long-standing conflict over the distribution of broadcasting fees. The collection is the responsibility of the public broadcasters of the two entities – FTV in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well RTRS in the Republic of Srpska. They each have to pass on half of the income to BHRT. Since 2015 hat RTRS but no funds more transferred to the roof sender.

BHRT is conducting several legal proceedings, including lawsuits against RTRS due to shares from the broadcasting fee not being passed on. According to the general manager Belmin Karamehmedovic The broadcaster is currently trying to gain time: the EBU will take legal action, but the process will give a certain amount of time flexibility. “The station then has another one or two months left. After that it will definitely be the end of BHRTKaramehmedović said.

“The technology is failing, the sets are dilapidated”

The program director describes how precarious the situation is Neda Tadic. The decision to temporarily suspend the program was unavoidable as production had “reached its limits”. “We lack the resources, the technology is failing, the sets are dilapidated, and there is less and less money available for filming. Many employees are leaving to look for secure jobs,” Tadić told Bosnian media.

It is also one of the 14 central requirements for the Balkan state’s accession to the EUto design the framework conditions in broadcasting in such a way that they meet EU standards for one free, independent and pluralistic public broadcasting are equivalent to. If Bosnia-Herzegovina’s public broadcaster is switched off completely, this could have negative consequences for the Balkan country’s candidacy for EU membership.