Tag Archive for: Bosnia and Herzegovina

You are here: / / Bosnia and Herzegovina

Posts

Bosnia & Herzegovina: BHRT owes approximately 10 million Euros to the EBU!

/3 Comments/in , /by

The national broadcaster of Bosnia & Herzegovina, BHRT, has a total debt towards the European Broadcasting Union that reaches approximately 10 million Euros.

Lejla A. Babović, the former head of delegation of Bosnia & Herzegovina, confirmed to local media that the national boradcaster at the moment ows to the European Broadcasting Union almost 10 million Euros. This confirmation came after the completion of the national competion of Montenegro for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

The head of the Departmenet of Internatonal Affairs of BHRT reconfirmed that BHRT is still unaible to take part in the contest due to the debt towards the EBU, which approximately amounts to 9 million Swiss francs (9,67 million Euros).

Ms Babović attended the Montenegrin competition Montesong in Podgoritsa, which included jury members from across the regions of ex Yugoslavia. She shared her thoughts on what changes should be carried out so that Bosnia and Herzegovina be able to return to the contest.

“The state stands behind the Public service of Montenegro, and will help it to recover and strengthen itself.”

“What I saw last night reminds me of the show programs that we watch in the West, and the show that is seen at the Eurovision Song Contest itself.”

“The European way. It pains me that twenty years ago we were able to organize all that without any problems, and today… Just look at the attitude of the state and the authorities towards the public broadcaster of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“They swear by the European path, and the issue of the functioning of the public broadcaster is one of the chapters on the path to the European Union.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina has not taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2016, when it was the first time that they failed to qualify for the grand final, as they ended up in the 11th of the first semi-final.

Source: Raport

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Follow us on all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision:

 

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Public broadcaster BHRT will not broadcast Eurovision 2024!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Eight years after their last participation, Bosnia-Herzegovina seems to not be broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest for another year, through the public broadcaster.

Read more

Bosnia & Herzegovina: The country is considering returning in Eurovision 2025!

/1 Comment/in , /by

Bosnia and Herzegovina‘s public broadcaster has said it is considering a return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s public broadcaster, BHRT, is considering a return to the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time after a hiatus of almost a decade. The last time the Balkan country took part was in 2016. In a 2024 schedule, the broadcaster outlined its plans for next year with the announcement of new programs, the discussions around the target audience and it  also made the following statement:

“Also, we think it is high time to consider the possibility of returning Bosnia & Herzegovina’s representatives to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025.”

This is the first time after almost a decade that BHRT has publicly expressed its desire to return to the Eurovision Song Contest. The country last participated in Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm thanks to private sponsorship support.

The broadcaster had previously confirmed that they were still subject to sanctions by the EBU and would not be taking part in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. Resolving financial issues as well as payments to the EBU remains a critical hurdle for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates around the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: BHRT

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision:

Bosnia & Herzegovina: A two-million euros fund granted for BHRT!

/0 Comments/in , /by

The funding problem that BHRT is facing for the past years has been temporarily solved with a two-million euros fund granted for the broadcaster by the Council of Ministers. The extreme financial problems that BHRT is facing almost led to the shutdown of the country’s public television.

The payment now granted for BHRT is intended to cover its studio and production needs along with the broadcast rights for Euro 2024 and the Summer Olympics.

However, the afore-mentioned is only a temporal solution. The problem shall be solved from the ground up and according to the Minister of Communications and Transport, Edin Forto:

This is the first step. The second one must be the urgent appointment of the FTV management structures in the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to regulate the method of collecting the RTV tax within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a fair manner. The third step is the adoption of a new law that will permanently regulate the stability of public services and from which all three services will have stronger support than today.

What threatens the sustainability of BHRT?

The problem lies on the distribution of the Radio and Television tax between broadcasters inside Bosnia and Herzegovina. Radio Television of the Republika Srpska (RTRS), which has had a special agreement on the collection of Radio and Television tax since 2017, does not transfer a single BAM(Bosnian currency) to BHRT.

Hence, the entity broadcaster violates Article 23 of the Law on Public RTV Service and illegally accumulates money from the RTV tax on its account that does not belong to it, leaving BHRT in the red, despite the fact that the Federal Television program depends on BHRT fulfilling its obligations.

Along with RTRS, the Radio Television of the FBiH (RTVFBiH) does not pay any funds to BHRT. In fact, BHRT rents its premises to RTVFBiH and provides it with studios, cameras and technical expertise in order to produce the program.

With RTRS and RTVFBiH collecting illegally money and BHRT being in the red, people are worrying about the worst-case scenario, a shutdown, since it can no longer perform its function.

The solution, according to BHRT, is that the Radio and Television tax money is paid into their account, and they guarantee a more equitable distribution than before.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a long way to go before it can combat corruption within the state, become more modern, and operate in accordance with European standards.

It is also worth noticing that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the whole continent of Europe that does have a digital signal, seven years following the conclusion of the first phase of digitization.

We hope that this will be a step towards a BHRT sustainability as well as the country’s return to the Eurovision Song Contest.

Bosnia and Herzegovina at Eurovision

Due to the afore-mentioned financial burdens EBU has sanctions imposed on BHRT for failing to meet its financial obligations. Hence, the Balkan country remains absent from the contest since 2017. Meanwhile, its last participation was in 2016 with Dalal, Deen, Ana Rucner and Jala and the song “Ljubav je”. Along with the country’s last appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest up to this day, it was also Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first non qualification.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: broadbandtvnews

Bosnia & Herzegovina: BHRT in fear of a complete shutdown!

/0 Comments/in , /by

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a once-thriving at Eurovision Balkan country, has been absent from the Eurovision Song Contest for the past eight years. In fact, the country’s absence is due to EBU sanctions imposed on BHRT for failing to meet its financial obligations. Meanwhile, BHRT has been stating for years through its officials that the broadcaster is experiencing financial difficulties due to a lack of funding.

All of the above is correct, and it appears that the situation is serious enough to necessitate a complete shutdown of BHRT.

The problem on the distribution of funds

The problem lies on the distribution of the Radio and Television tax between broadcasters inside Bosnia and Herzegovina. Radio Television of the Republika Srpska (RTRS), which has had a special agreement on the collection of Radio and Television tax since 2017, does not transfer a single BAM(Bosnian currency) to BHRT.

Hence, the entity broadcaster violates Article 23 of the Law on Public RTV Service and illegally accumulates money from the RTV tax on its account that does not belong to it, leaving BHRT in the red, despite the fact that the Federal Television program depends on BHRT fulfilling its obligations.

Along with RTRS, the Radio Television of the FBiH (RTVFBiH) does not pay any funds to BHRT. In fact, BHRT rents its premises to RTVFBiH and provides it with studios, cameras and technical expertise in order to produce the program.

With RTRS and RTVFBiH collecting illegally money and BHRT being in the red, people are worrying about the worst-case scenario, a shutdown, since it can no longer perform its function.

Is there a solution?

The current contract on the collection of the Radio and Television tax, the distribution of which is threatening the operation of BHRT, was in force till December 31, 2023. A new direction has to be drawn, leading to a financial sustainability of BHRT. The solution, according to BHRT, is that the Radio and Television tax money is paid into their account, and they guarantee a more equitable distribution than before.

A new law on the Public Television Services is being advocated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to benefit the Bosnian Television and save BHRT. According to Edin Forto, the Minister of Transport and Communications:

What I repeat and what is very important as a state minister, it is very important to know that, the financial sustainability of the Public Broadcasting System is one of the 14 priorities of the European Commission. We must treat it as important as any other law that is listed in those 14 priorities. The sustainability of the RTV public service in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that’s why I advocate that, as it is written in the state law on public service, that all funds be paid on a single account, and we will insist on that. Of course from both entities, and then that in in accordance with the law, they distribute those funds as it is written in the law, as much as it goes to whom.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a long way to go before it can combat corruption within the state, become more modern, and operate in accordance with European standards.

It is also worth noticing that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the whole continent of Europe that does have a digital signal, seven years following the conclusion of the first phase of digitization.

Hopefully, this new law will aid in better fund distribution and, as a result, save Bosnia and Herzegovina’s public broadcaster from closure. The sustainability of its public television service is also critical to the country’s admission to the European Union.

Bosnia and Herzegovina last participated at Eurovision back in 2016 with Dalal, Deen, Ana Rucner and Jala and the song “Ljubav je”. Along with the country’s last appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest up to this day, it was also Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first non qualification.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: sarajevotimes , BHRT

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sanctions by the EBU still in force!

/0 Comments/in , /by

The sanctions posed by the EBU on the Bosnian broadcaster BHRT, due to unpaid dabts, remain in force, excluding the country from the upcoming contest.

The first penalties on the public broadcaster of Bosnia and Herzegovina were imposed in December of 2016, when the EBU discontinued BHRT’s access to the Eurovision News Exchange and since then, the country is unable to participate on the Eurovision Song Contest. It is noted that the last Bosnian entry on the Contest was the song “Ljubav Je”, sung by Dalal and Deen featuring Ana Rucner and Jala who ended up 11th on their respective Semi-Final.

BHRT is facing financial difficulties and is even close to shutting down completely, taking the funding issues that has been dealing with since 2017 into account · this is because the Radio Television of Republica Srpska has not funded BHRT with the needed financial sources. There may have been negotiations around the matter for the past year, but a solution has not come up.

This is not the first time that the EBU forces sanctions on a participating broadcaster due to unfulfilled financial responsibilities. In 2016, the Romania’s TVR faced a penalty for the same reason as BHRT.

The country’s last participation was in Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm. The country was represented by Dalal, Deen, Ana Rucner and Jala with the song “Ljubav je”, but the country failed to qualify for the grand final for the first time as it finished 11th in the first semi-final.

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all the upcoming updates!

Source: BHRT

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Absent from Eurovision 2024!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

BHRT, the national broadcaster of Bosnia-Herzegovina has confirmed that the country will not return to Eurovision 2024.

The Balkan country withdrew for the first time back in 2013, returned to the contest 3 years after, in 2016, and since 2017 remains absent from any Eurovision event. The reasons behind Bosnia’s withdrawal are the financial problems that BHRT is facing.

Except Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovakia has confirmed its absence from Eurovision 2024 also claiming financial problems. Meanwhile, Luxembourg will return to Malmö after 30 years of absence.

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all news regarding Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: esctoday.com

Bosnia & Herzegovina: They won’t return in Eurovision 2024!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not returning to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 either!

For another year, this Balkan country will not take part in the European competition, continuing the streak of abstention from 2017. Today, the head of the international affairs department of BHRT, Leijla A. Babović, stated that the country would most likely not return to the contest in 2024 as the broadcaster remains under sanctions by the EBU due to unpaid debts.

The country’s last participation was in Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm. The country was represented by Dalal, Deen, Ana Rucner and Jala with the song “Ljubav je”, but the country failed to qualify for the grand final for the first time as it finished 11th in the first semi-final.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: BHRT will not be broadcasting Eurovision 2023!

/0 Comments/in , /by

BHRT, the national broadcaster of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 which takes place in Liverpool, United Kingdom next week.

BHRT has confirmed that the Eurovision Song Contest will not be broadcast by the broadcaster in Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking 7 years since the contest was last broadcast in the country. The most recent Eurovision-related show broadcast by BHRT was Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light in 2020, the special show organised by the EBU for the cancellation of the 2020 Contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BHRT is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) but has been blocked from accessing the Union’s services due to the organisation’s high debt. So from December 2016 the country is unable to compete and/or broadcast the competition.

The country’s last participation was in Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm. The country was represented by Dalal, Deen, Ana Rucner and Jala with the song “Ljubav je”, but the country failed to qualify for the grand final for the first time as it finished 11th in the first semi-final.

So far, the non-participating in Eurovision 2023 countries that have confirmed the broadcast of this year’s contest are the following:

  • Chile – Canal 13
  • North Macedonia – MRT
  • Slovakia – Radio_FM
  • United States – Peacock

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening in Liverpool:

Source: eurovoix

Bosnia & Herzegovina: The country will not return to Eurovision 2023!

/2 Comments/in , , /by

BHRT, the public broadcaster of Bosnia & Herzegovina, confirmed yesterday, that they are not going to take part in Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

The broadcaster confirmed that there is no chance of returning for next year’s contest. The country had previously taken part in the 2016 contest in Stockholm, but later withdrew in 2017 due to financial problems. BHRT had explained in the past that it’s not likely to return to Eurovision in the near future, unless the method by which it is funded is resolved.

BHRT is a member of the European Broadcasting Union but as of now it is denied access to all of its services due to unpaid debts. That means that since December 2016, BHRT can’t take part in Eurovion and Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

The channel is in great econimic pressure and is on the verge of closing. Since 2017 the public TV of the Republic of Serpska has failed to provide BHRT with its allocation of the feeds collected in the region and as a result triggered a funding shortfall of over 32 million euros as of the end of 2021.

Bosnia & Herzegovina’s last participation was in 2016 with the song “Ljubav Je” by Dalan & Deen feat. Ana Rucner:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Source: eurovoix.com