Media Study - Medija centar Beograd

Recommendation
It is recommended that a model for regional Television and Radio in Serbia is developed:
Ten to fifteen broadcasting regions are defined by the Ministry of Culture.
A founding advisory programme board is established in each region consisting of 17 to 21 civil society
representatives from the region.
A board of directors consisting of 7-9 members is elected by each regional advisory programme board. The
members cannot be active politicians or executive public employees.
Each regional board selects a managing director/editor-in-chief through public competition and with full daily
editorial and economic responsibility and authority.
Each regional public service broadcaster is established as legal entity.
Municipally owned local and regional broadcasters in the region stop as independent entities and equipment
and staff is transferred to the newly established public service broadcaster under its management.
Private radio and TV stations are offered to transfer equipment and staff to the regional public service
broadcaster or to continue broadcasting till their frequency license expires.
The new regional public service broadcaster can decide itself whether to have a decentralised or centralised
production of programmes from its region
The established regional public service broadcasters are independent entities but are in relation to
parliamentary allocation of resources and in relation to agreements with RTS on broadcasting hours and other
practical issues to be seen as a network doing the negotiations collectively.
Political agreements are entered with the regional network of broadcasters about public service obligations,
annual public service plans and accounts, as well as possible changes in the tasks and financing.
The regional broadcasters are funded by license fees in addition to RTS’ license fees to produce and broadcast
regional programmes, and have the same rights as RTS to gain commercial revenue. The license fees are
equally shared between all regional public service broadcasters.
The regional broadcasters are from additional license fees on top of the present RTS’ license fees paid to
produce regional content to the RTS national programme according to the editorial needs of RTS and the
capacity of the individual regional broadcaster.
The regional broadcasters might over time expand the hours of regional broadcasting and eventually establish
a joint national public service channel should need, financing and political will be present.
The Broadcasting Law, the Law on Capital City, the Law on Local Self-Government, the Law on Public
Information, the Law on National Councils of National Minorities, must be adapted accordingly.
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