BiH government should do utmost to ensure sustainability of public broadcasting system and urgently address digital switchover, says OSCE Representative

VIENNA, 7 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović is calling on the new government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal with pressing issues that could further undermine the fragile media freedom situation in the country, including the sustainability of public broadcasting and implementation of the digital switchover.

“It is high time to find ways forward and ensure the long-term sustainability of public service broadcasting,” Mijatović wrote in a letter on 3 April to Denis Zvizdić, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “I urge the authorities to ensure that an efficient funding system is put in place which will also ensure the financial and editorial independence for the public broadcasters before the system collapses.”

The current system for collecting the broadcasting tax through telephone bills will end on 26 April.

The Representative commissioned two comprehensive legal reviews in 2012 assessing laws pertaining to public service broadcasting and the legislative framework on the Communications Regulatory Agency, which also provided recommendations on funding for public service broadcasting.

She also appealed to political parties to end their calls against paying the broadcasting tax.

Furthermore Mijatović addressed the issue of the digital switchover.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the region that has not yet initiated any significant attempts toward digitalization,” Mijatović said. “This could leave some areas of the country without a television signal after the 17 June switch-off date.”

She urged the authorities to work together with the Communications Regulatory Agency which developed plan to minimize the damage of the delay.

On 27 January the Representative also wrote to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina on these issues as well as on the increasing threats and violence against the media, including attacks on journalists, a raid on media offices, the high number of civil defamation lawsuits against media initiated by senior politicians, and the functioning and independence of the Communications Regulatory Agency.

Mijatović said she hoped to make an official visit to the country soon to see how her Office can assist in these and other media freedom issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.