28. 08. 2004

Rules for media privatisation adopted

BELGRADE, August 28, 2004 (Beta) – Rules for the privatisation of radio and television stations operated by local and regional communities in Serbia came into force today. Under the new rules, the privatisation of local broadcasters is to be conducted through the sale of their capital in a public tender or public auction. The privatisation procedure is to be launched in radio and television stations which have brought their operations and activities into conformity with the Broadcast Act of 2002. If privatisation is conducted through the sale of capital at public auction, the capital set aside for the unpaid transfer of shares to employees is to amount to thirty per cent of the capital being privatised. If privatisation is carried out through public tender, fifteen per cent of capital is to be set aside for this purpose. The rules stipulate that the privatisation of broadcasters operated by local or regional communities is to be conducted in such a way that the production and broadcasting of local current affairs and educational programming is not interrupted. This continuity is to be secured by restricting the sale of capital to purchasers who are entitled to hold a broadcasting licence and by stipulating that the defined aims and activities of the company are not to be changed before the expiry of the current licence for radio and television broadcasting. The rules further stipulate that a minimum of four hours per day of local current affairs and educational programming in morning and evening prime time must be secured. The rules for the conduct of privatising radio and television stations operated by local and regional communities as proclaimed by Culture and Information Minister Dragan Kojadinovic were published in the Official Gazette on August 20 and came into force this week. The Culture and Information Ministry is also expected to adopt rules for the privatisation of Serbian print media in the near future.