|
| |
RADIO B92 ANNOUNCEMENT ON SIGNING OF CONTRACT ON USE OF FREQUENCY:
ANOTHER BATTLE WAS WON
Radio B92 today signed Contract on fee and other conditions for use of
frequencies and TV channels, and thus frequency 92,5 MHz is given to Radio
B92 by the state. This frequency applies only to the territory of Belgrade,
which means that only one of four submitted requests at Open Competition for
frequencies was met.
Contract was signed after intensive negotiations with Ministry of
Telecommunication which accepted Radio B92's objections to the version of
contract offered two weeks ago, which Radio B92 had refused to sign.
By this contract signed today, Radio B92 is given frequency and location for
its transmitter - Dom Omladine in Belgrade, and fee for use of this
frequency was reduced for 50%, compared to amount which had been offered
first and which Radio B92 did not accept. Besides, Radio B92's General
Manager and Legal Advisor were given precise financial breakdown of the fee
for use of frequency, as demanded by Radio B92.
With this contract signed, Radio B92 will significantly improve its audience
reach in Belgrade and it will be able to set up, use and maintain its own
transmitter, with unlimited access to it for B92's technical staff (which
means that water will be kept away from coax cables). Depandance on "good
will" of RTS will end when new antenna is set up on the building of Dom
Omladine, which will, we hope, soon include TV transmitter of B92
Television. Price that Radio B92 will pay for these improvements is not low,
because fee for radio broadcasting is almost 20,000 dinars per month, but we
hope that we will have have support (including financial one) of our
listeners during the collection of this amount, and we hope that listeners
will be satisified with our improved and enhanced radio signal.
Signing of the aforesaid contract does not mean that struggle for
legalisation of free media under fair conditions has ended.
Radio B92 submitted three more official demands at the Open Competition
which were refused by the Ministry, but Radio B92 did not give up on those
demands and it expectes them to be approved soon (allocation of TV channel)
i.e. after completion of legal court procedures (for another ardio frequency
and satellite uplink).
Radio B92, as member of ANEM, will continually give its support and aid to
other ANEM members whose demands for frequency were not approved. Radio B92
and ANEM also will not give up initiative for abolition of fees for
frequencies, as introduction of fees is an illegal decision.
The fact that one ANEM member signed contract is only the first step for us,
first battle that was won on the way to legalisation of all ANEM members,
within this most compehensive action for defence of free media in our
country ever. Until this action has ended by final victory of ANEM and
achievement of freedom of media in our country, Radio B92 will not give up
its actions of support and aid to all members of the Association.
Belgrade, July 13, 1998
Veran Matic,
Editor in Chief of Radio B92
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief
tel:
+381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia fax:
+381-11-322-4378
Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/
|
P.O. Box, CH-8031
Zürich, Switzerland