Macedonia Public Broadcaster in Turmoil

Macedonia Radio Television (MRT) General Director Gordana Stosic resigned (August 7) casting doubts on the broadcasters’ future.

It is yet another South East Europe State broadcaster facing pressures to re-organize as a public service broadcaster.  A new radio broadcasting law adopted recently intends to change MRT’s funding to a household license fee from direct subsidy from the State budget. Until a collection system is in place the State must continue financial support, estimated at about €5 million per year. The Macedonian government has contributed about one-third of that amount.

Funding might be the most obvious problem for MRT - employees have taken to strike actions over unpaid salaries – but not the only problem. The new broadcasting law outlined a public service organization structure led by an independent MRT Council, which called for new members of the Board of Directors. The leading political party asked that a new Board of Directors not be seated because the Council lacks sufficient funds. This led to calls of political interference, specifically prohibited in the new broadcasting law.

Macedonian Radio Television produces three national terrestrial and one satellite radio channels.

In 1993 with the dissolution of Yugoslavia, MRT split from the Yugoslav state broadcasting system. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has established criteria in former Yugoslav States for public broadcasting similar to those in place within the European Union. - Michael Hedges November 1, 2005

Previously published in Radio World International, October 1, 2005, in a slightly different form

Keywords:media in Macedonia, OSCE

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