Television in Bosnia and Herzegovina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Television in Bosnia and Herzegovina was first introduced in 1961. Out of 94 TV stations, 71 are commercial, 20 are public (regional, local or municipal ownership), while 3 public services are funded through subscription.
Data by CRA BiH (1 July 2019) | Sum |
---|---|
Television licence | 3 |
Public broadcasting (Regional, local or municipal ownership) | 20 |
Commercial broadcasting | 71 |
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First broadcasting in Bosnia and Herzegovina started in 1961 when Radio-Televizija Sarajevo began its programme although without its own TV studio at that time (it used Radio Sarajevo's premises for this purpose).
Televizija Sarajevo (TVSA) started broadcasting its own TV program on 17 March 1969. with first live TV-news program called "Večernji ekran“ (Evening Screen). At the beginning of 1975., the first phase of the construction of RTV Dom – TV headquarters building in Sarajevo was completed. Two years later, in 1977, the second television program (TVSA 2) was launched.
With the help of other members of the Yugoslav Radio Television system, Radio-Television Sarajevo successfully implemented all special broadcasting programs dedicated to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. The third television channel (TVSA 3) has started with broadcasting in 1989 from headquarters also known as the RTV Dom[1] (nickname "Sivi dom") located in Sarajevo.
During the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Yugoslav Radio Television system dissolved when most republics became independent countries. The once-recognizable joint program created by the exchange of TV content in JRT network soon was suspended and interrupted, and separate national TV stations began to use propaganda in tv news and other programs. As a result, the once subnational broadcasting centers became public broadcasters of the newly independent states. In such conditions, the first commercial television stations in the Balkans appear.
At the beginning of the War in Bosnia, in 1992, RTV Sarajevo changed its name to Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RTV BiH). Headquarters of the RTV BiH were often exposed to war damages. During the siege of Sarajevo, RTV BiH was forced to broadcast only one radio (Radio BiH) and one television program (tv bih) via damaged transmitters at Hum TV Tower, with minimal technical conditions.
On 2 May 1992, Hum Tower was partly destroyed by the JNA and VRS.[2] Militants illegally took over all property (TV transmitters and releys) from the former TVSA. Seven out of ten TV repeaters from former TVSA in the territory of BiH were controlled by the JNA and VRS.
From stolen equipment, a parallel new TV channel (Kanal S – SRT; now: RTRS) was established in May 1992[3] to broadcast propaganda or news builtens from Serbian RTV Beograd via its seat in Pale, near Sarajevo. The second TV transmitter above the Sarajevo, Bosnian capital, (Trebević Television transmitter) was directly controlled by SRT (Srpska radio televizija). With the outbreak of the Conflict between Croatia and Bosnian and Herzegovina, TV transmitters under the control of HVO started to rebroadcast news programs of HRT via its Erotel affiliate based in Mostar.
During the war (1992–1995), many independent local or regional stations (public and commercial) were launched across the country. Former network affiliates of the second radio channel (Radio Sarajevo 2) often were used as facilities for these new TV stations.
On 1 January 1993, RTV BiH was admitted as an active member of the European Broadcasting Union.
In the Alipašino Polje neighborhood of Sarajevo, on 28 June 1995, a modified air-bomb was thrown by JNA/VRS into the building of RTV BiH. One person was killed, and at least 30 injured.[4]
Hum Tower also suffered major damage, which is partially repaired after the war by technicians from national public broadcaster, BHRT.[5]
After the war, many local media continued to work. With the help of various international donors, equipment has been renewed through media support projects.
On 2 March 2001, Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded with mission to regulate the electronic communications and audiovisual sector in BiH. An important task was the management and supervision of the frequency spectrum.
After 17 July 2002, in Bosnia and Herzegovina there was no radio and TV stations that broadcast without official broadcasting licence issued by the CRA.[6]
All local media in BiH, which could not meet the official criteria of the competition for broadcasting licences were closed in the period between 2000 and 2002. According to the recommendations, CRA BiH has established a public register of permits issued for all broadcasters with relevant data about all media outlets (radio stations, TV channels...) who have received permission to work.
Year | Radio | Television |
---|---|---|
2008 | 126 | 39 |
2009 | 125 | 42 |
2010 | 123 | 40 |
2011 | 133 | 42 |
2012 | 134 | 45 |
2013 | 135 | 42 |
2014 | 131 | 48 |
2015 | 133 | 51 |
2016 | 130 | 51 |
2017 | / | / |
2018 | 149 | 93* (CRA) |
Free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters
National and near-national coverage
Television licence funding
Bosnia and Herzegovina has 3 public broadcasters financed from radio and television fees (RTV pretplata/pristojba). The amount of television fees in BiH is 7.5 BAM per month (collected along with Electric bill).[7]
The national public broadcaster for Bosnia and Herzegovina is BHRT (Radio televizija Bosne i Hercegovine). With one television and one radio channel it covers more than 97% of the country. BHRT is the only Bosnian member of the European Broadcasting Union.[8]
The entity broadcaster for Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is RTVFBiH (Radio televizija Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine). The program is broadcast on one radio and one television channel. The entity broadcaster for Republika Srpska is RTRS (Radio televizija Republike Srpske). The program is broadcast via one radio and two television channels (one channel is via cable systems).[9]
There are plans to establish a public TV corporation[10] that would operate, consolidate and improve quality of all Bosnian tax-funded public broadcasters.
TV channel | Type | Launched | Formerly called | Owned by | Language | HDTV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHT 1 | General | 1 June 1961; 62 years ago (1961-06-01) | RTV Sarajevo (1961–1992) RTV BiH (tvbih) (1991–1995) BHT (1995–1998) PBS BiH (BHTV 1) (1998–2004) BHT 1 (since 2004) |
BHRT | Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian |
Y |
Federalna TV | General | 27 October 2001; 22 years ago (2001-10-27) | RTVFBiH | Bosnian and Croatian | Y | |
RTRS.tv | General | 19 April 1992; 31 years ago (1992-04-19) | Канал С ТВ РС |
RTRS | Serbian | N |
Commercial funding
Near-national commercial broadcasters are primarily focused on the entitiy markets, but some of them also broadcast a joint program (Mreža TV). They provide a common advertising space (on country, entity, or regional level) that is more attractive to major advertisers.
TV channel | Type | Launched | Formerly called | Owned by | Language | HDTV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OBN | General | 23 July 1996; 27 years ago (1996-07-23) | Open Broadcast Network | Ivan Ćaleta (100%) | Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian |
Y |
Nova BH | General | 9 October 2018; 5 years ago (2018-10-09) | Pink BH (2003–2018) | United Group | Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian |
Y |
Hayat | General | 24 February 1992; 32 years ago (1992-02-24) | Neovisna televizija Hayat Hayat HD |
Hayat TV | Bosnian | Y |
BN Televizija | General | 5 May 1998; 25 years ago (1998-05-05) | RTV BN | Serbian | Y | |
ATV | General | 4 June 1997; 26 years ago (1997-06-04) | Alternativna TV | Serbian | Y | |
O Kanal | General | 26 August 2010; 13 years ago (2010-08-26) | TV1-RTM | Oslobođenje | Bosnian | Y |
Prva BH | General | 29 December 2021; 2 years ago (2021-12-29) | NTV Jasmin (1998–2022) | Unipol Group | Bosnian | Y |
Una TV | General | 21 December 2021; 2 years ago (2021-12-21) | Una World Network | Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian |
Y |
Regional coverage
Public funding
Other public TV stations broadcast only locally at the municipal, local, and regional levels, such as 5 cantonal TV stations (e.g. TVSA, RTV TK, RTV USK, RTV ZE, and RTV BPK).
TV channel | Type | Launched | Formerly called | Owned by | Language | HDTV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TVSA | Regional | 29 June 1998; 25 years ago (1998-06-29) | Televizija Kantona Sarajevo | Sarajevo Canton | Bosnian | Y |
RTV TK | Regional | 20 February 1992; 32 years ago (1992-02-20) | Televizija Tuzlanskog kantona | Tuzla Canton | Bosnian | Y |
RTV USK | Regional | 22 December 1995; 28 years ago (1995-12-22) | Televizija Unsko-sanskog kantona | Una-Sana Canton | Bosnian | Y |
RTV ZE | Regional | 23 May 1995; 28 years ago (1995-05-23) | Televizija Zenica | Zenica-Doboj Canton | Bosnian | Y |
RTV BPK | Regional | 26 August 1996; 27 years ago (1996-08-26) | Televizija BPK Goražde | Bosnian-Podrinje Canton | Bosnian | Y |
RTV HB | General | 1 July 1993; 30 years ago (1993-07-01) | Radiotelevizija Herceg-Bosne | RTVHB | Croatian | Y |
Commercial funding
Commercial terrestrial stations are mostly located in larger towns and settlements (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Bijeljina, Brčko, Bihać, Trebinje, Travnik, Zenica...).
TV channel | Type | Launched | Formerly called | Owned by | Language | HDTV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al Jazeera Balkans | General | 11 November 2011; 12 years ago (2011-11-11) | NTV 99 Sarajevo | Al Jazeera Media Network | Bosnian Serbian Croatian Montenegrin Slovene Macedonian |
Y |
Televizija K3 | Regional | 15 April 1995; 28 years ago (1995-04-15) | Televizija K3 | Serbian | Y | |
Televizija Hit | Regional | 1999; 25 years ago (1999) | RTV Hit Brčko | Serbian | N | |
Herceg TV | Regional | 2008; 16 years ago (2008) | RTV Herceg | Serbian | N | |
TV Slon Extra | Regional | 1 December 2005; 18 years ago (2005-12-01) | Bosnian | Y |
Local, city or municipal coverage
Local TV networks share local news (e.g. BH Veza in FBiH entity or PRIMA Mreža in RS entity).
Public funding
TV channel | Type | Launched | Formerly called | Owned by | Language | HDTV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TV Vogošća | Municipal | 10 December 1997; 26 years ago (1997-12-10) | Televizija Vogošća | Vogošća | Bosnian | Y |
TV Cazin | Municipal | 1993; 31 years ago (1993) | Televizija Cazin | Cazin | Bosnian | Y |
TV Visoko | Municipal | 13 July 1992; 31 years ago (1992-07-13) | Televizija Visoko | Visoko | Bosnian | Y |
TV Živinice | Municipal | 5 May 1992; 31 years ago (1992-05-05) | Televizija Živinice | Živinice | Bosnian | Y |
TV Bugojno | Municipal | 1992; 32 years ago (1992) | Televizija Bugojno | Bugojno | Bosnian | N |
TV Prijedor | Municipal | 2000; 24 years ago (2000) | Televizija Prijedor | Prijedor | Serbian | Y |
TV Rudo | Municipal | 28 June 1993; 30 years ago (1993-06-28) | Televizija Rudo | Rudo | Serbian | N |
Commercial funding
TV channel | Type | Launched | Formerly called | Owned by | Language | HDTV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TV Alfa | General | 2007; 17 years ago (2007) | Televizija Alfa | Dnevni avaz | Bosnian | N |
MTV Igman | Religious | 1993; 31 years ago (1993) | Bosnian | Y | ||
TV Bel Kanal | General | 2003; 21 years ago (2003) | ТВ Бел Канал | Serbian | N | |
TV Simić | General | 5 July 1997; 26 years ago (1997-07-05) | ТВ Симић | Serbian | N | |
RTV Vikom | General | 1997; 27 years ago (1997) | Serbian | N | ||
NTV 101 | General | 1998; 26 years ago (1998) | NTV 101 Sanski Most | Bosnian | Y | |
NTV Arena | General | 18 August 1999; 24 years ago (1999-08-18) | Nezavisni TV – Studio "Arena" | Serbian | N | |
RTV Slobomir | General | 2005; 19 years ago (2005) | Televizija Slobomir | Serbian | N | |
NTVIC Kakanj | General | 11 April 1994; 29 years ago (1994-04-11) | Neovisna televizija IC | Bosnian | Y | |
NTV Amna | General | 1997; 27 years ago (1997) | Neovisna televizija Amna | Bosnian | N | |
RTV Maglaj | General | 9 June 1992; 31 years ago (1992-06-09) | Bosnian | N |