After the blocking of its accounts by third week in a row, the Bosnian national broadcaster, BHRT, is in a very complicated financial situation that could lead to its closing.
In a statement BHRT has said that the blocking affects directly to its functioning and has done a call for help to the Government and associated stakeholders and avoid a potential shutting down of the broadcaster.
The main reason for that blocking is the inability of BHRT to receive the legally guaranteed income from the RTV fee, as regulated by the Law on the Public RTV System of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted by the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2005.
Part of the problem comes from the Radio Television of the Republika Srpska (Serbian republic in Bosnia). From 2017 the broadcaster has not provided the 50% of the feeds collected in that region, triggering a deficit in the accounts of BHRT of over 32 million Euros (63 million KM) at the end of 2021. This affects all obligations of the broadcaster, including the ability to pay taxes or the salary and pensions of the workers.
The lack of funds of the national broadcaster has affected also to its membership in the EBU with the European organism canceling that membership due to the debt of BHRT with the organism since 2016. The cancelation of the membership has affected to the participation in the Eurovision Family of events (as the Eurovision Song Contest) or other services of the EBU.
