25.02.2014 Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General 1 Public service broadcasting in South East Europe: an overview October 2010 By Oliver Vujovic.

10.04.23Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary

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Public service broadcasting in South East Europe: an

overview

October 2010

By Oliver Vujovic


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Public vs. private

Today a situation different than in 50´ of last century, when state TV / radio developed in all countries.

Since 90´ in last century in most countries in SEE state to public RTV

Private (commercial media) in all countries since 90´ of last century.

Private channels are very often more popular than public

Public RTV still vital role in promoting freedom of information, but must accept the private media as competition and partner !


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Why PBS in SEE? Education of the population

Important for democratic development (Democracy is still a process going on in all countries)

Taking care about quality values.

Resolving conflict situations by promoting conflict resolution, peace building and reconciliation (former YU after 2000 –still slowly)


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PBS – some questions 1

Shopping channels broadcasting in free time – is it acceptable?

Reality shows – can it / should it be in public TV?

Quality of programmes for national minorities –

often political propaganda / state propaganda for minorities, and not a programme by minorities.

Not much space for sexual / religion diversities (main religion leading) / women – gender topics


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Still strong influence of politicians (in most countries is „normal“: new government new chiefs – CEO, editors, etc...)

Internet of PBS – PBS webpages with news and archives competition to commercial webpages – how fare can it go ? Similar about PBS over mobile phones and production of CDs/ DVDs. Commercial companies see it as not fair competition – as PBS for radio and TV – not internet, mobile phones, CDs / DVDs production.


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Why private TV channels have sometimes more the public role (education, culture, documentaries – quality programme) than PBS?

No direct state funding - as it would allegedly endanger the independence of PBS

We need more cross border cooperation of PBS – still not lot of reportages about daily life in the neighbouring country.

Regulation of advertising – different from country to country – in some max. minutes per hour, in some how children / minorities /crimes / clear age of viewers presented – in some not.


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Should calls over / advertising for 0900 phone numbers with profit to some private partners be acceptable?

Problem: broadcasting lotto / bingo etc in PBS

Should PBS be more involved in campaigns for general good (health – anti-smoking, anti-cancer, blood donation, anti-alphabets)

Still not enough programmes for persons wih hearing problems (only in payment in some countries – like RoM / FYROM exempt from payment of the broadcasting fee. The households with a blind person whose vision is impaired over 90% or families with a person whose hearing is impaired with an intensity of over 60 decibels ) – this is with modern technological equipment possible!


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Important:

The importance that the EBU and its Members protect editorial independence and press freedom

More EBU projects that make good PR for EBU – like Eurovision Song Contest + regional cooperation stronger (joint TV and radio shows)


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Finances 1

Basic question: today are commercial TV and radio channels, pay-TV, cable, satellite, foreign TV / radio channels, internet / mobile and DVDs – the right for PBS to receive exclusive the fees has been questioned from different institutions. But all agree:

1. Important are stabile financial sources for PBS2. Financial sources should secure independency of

PBS – no political control of PBS over finances 3. Financing PBS is not a solidarity – it is a need.

Some ideas of a new name: instead of public broadcasting license fee

Important: public funding needs to be independent from the political whims and the economic demands of the moment, if we want to have credible PBS


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Finances 2

obligatory subscription (TV / radio licence fee) directly over subsidiary company OK if collecting is more „to inform instead of control „ . Problem: licence inspectors who target households that have no licence are seen as an invasion of privacy

obligatory subscription (TV / radio licence fee) over electricity billOK, but more as pressure feeling to users + problems with electricity companies + commission to electricity company + even the dead pay the licence fee (since graveyards pay electricity bills) or if a person has more electro-meters – each pay.

obligatory (TV / radio licence fee) over phone bill OK, but more pressure as pressure feeling to users + problems with phone companies + commission to phone company + what is if no phone, but a TV / radio?

budgetproblem budget revisions (no stable, hard forecasting for business plan ) + easy state control


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Finances – some countries (annual amount) 1 Albania licence fee 6.20 EUR

(smaller part) + directly from the government through taxes (58%) + advertising

BIH 36 EUR 3 separate broadcasters (BHRT, RTVFBIH, RTRS) –less money individually + over household's phone bill (what if no phone, but TV / radio?)

Cyprus CyBC by advertising + government grants. No fee.

Czech 58 EUR

Croatia 1.5 % of the average net salary the year before – 137 EUR - Main to national broadcaster + small part to other national and local broadcasters

Kosovo – according to the Law on Radio and TV (2006): The value of the subscription fee for public broadcasting will be 3.5 EUR / month.


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Finances – some countries (annual amount) 2

Greece obligatory and paid through electricity bills 51.60 EUR.

Hungary state budget (parliament cut 2009 30 %), no private fee +

commercial units (restaurants) fee

RoM / FYROM -25 EUR – was by part of the electricity bill now by MRT. The MRT shall keep 0.5% of the collected funds as commission fee – no results- new: Public Revenue Office to be in charge

-72% for MRT for creating and broadcasting programmes; - 4.5% for MRT for technical; - 16% for MRD (Makedonska Radiodifuzija - transmission networks of the Public Broadcasting Service); - 3.5 % for MRD for public broadcasting network development and - 4 % for the Broadcasting Council

Montenegro 3.5 EUR x 12 = 42 EUR –collected by Broadcasting Agency (BA) was over Telekom –2007 no more interest by new owner T-com

-75 % national PB RTV, 10 % local PB, 10 % private RTV, 5 %

BA

Romania electricity billTeleviziunea Română 1,12 EUR monthly x 12 = 13.44 EUR household, companies + Hotels 2,15 EUR x 12 = 25.8 EUR per room for TV x companies max. to 14 EUR x 12 = 168 EUR + advertising and government grants .

Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company 0,70 EUR monthly x 12 = 8.4 EUR + companies more (8.5 EUR x 12)


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Finances – some countries (annual amount) 3

Slovakia 42 EUR +state subsidies and advertising

Slovenia 132 EUR / 39 EUR + advertising

Serbia 60 EUR – electricity bill

Turkey tax by producer / importer of the TV receiving equipment -electricity bill - but instead from budget


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Employees

Still more employees than needed in many PBS – problem PBS often a place for secured working place.

Often many employees with no regular contracts –lot of freelancers (cheaper, but not happy staff)


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Digitalisation in South East Europe

Still in some countries very slowly

(Serbia, Greece)


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SEEMO activities for PBS

PBS conference in Slovenia 2008 – maybe again together with EBU 2011 ?

The Ljubljana Recommendations on Public Broadcasting by SEEMO (see www.seemo.org)

Roma Media Days – for better PB for Roma minority / using PB for education of Roma minority

Other events also for PBS (like Investigative Journalism Days)


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More

+ DeScripto magazine

SEEMO South East and Central Europe Media Handbook


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THANKS !

Oliver Vujovic

25.02.2014 Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General 1 Public service broadcasting in South East Europe: an overview October 2010 By Oliver Vujovic.

Documents

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