Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006

Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006Allocation of Broadcasting FrequenciesIn keeping with Article 49 of this law, the Broadcasting Agency announcedtender in March 2006 for the allocation of TV and radio broadcastingfrequencies. 496 The tender concerned national frequencies for the territoryof Vojvodina and Belgrade. 497 Implementation requirements were publicizedand posted on the Agency’s web site. 498 Sixteen television stations applied toobtain national frequency. 499 On April 3, 2006, within the proscribed legaldeadline, 500 the Agency announced the acceptance of 12 implementations. 501Disqualified were: the RTL, on grounds of questionable ownershipparticipation (more than 49% of foreign investment); the RTV Politika,for numerous reasons; the IBC – 100% state ownership; and the TV A forcontinuous failure to make deposits. 502Of all rejected radio and television stations, the RTL draws most attention,for it comprises more than 30 television stations throughout Europe. 503The RTL’s implementation was turned down on grounds of questionableownership structure – the Agency established that more than 49%of investment in this media house is foreign, the rejection having beenstipulated by Article 41, Section 3 of the Law on broadcasting. 504 The saidsection orders that “a foreign party may take part in the founding capitalof the license-holder for program broadcasting in the amount of up to49% of total capital, unless international agreements countersigned by theFederal Republic of Yugoslavia stipulate otherwise.” 505Formulated as such, this legal provision caused numerous disagreementsand doubts among both the experts 506 and the Agency members. 507 Thus,detailed interpretation was requested from the Ministry of Culture, asthe body responsible for radio-diffusion area. 508 In the formal document,496 Public tender for the allocation of licenses for television and radio broadcasting, see the Agency’s web site: http://www.rra.org.yu/srpski/RRA-Oglas.pdf, visited on November 23 rd , 2006497 Ibid498 Ibid499 The List of Applicants to the Public Tender for the Allocation of Licenses for Television and Radion Broadcasting, see theAgency’s web site: http://www.rra.org.yu/srpski/listaprijava.pdf, visited on November 23 rd , 2006500 Law on Broadcasting, Article 53, Paragraph 1, Item 2, see above under 2501 See above under 499502 Ibid503 Tamara Skrozza, How did Vuk Hamović become a foreigner, VREME, April 6 th , 2006504 See above under 504505 Law on broadcasting, Article 41, Paragraph 3, see above under 2506 RTL has been eliminated illegally, BLIC, April 7 th , 2006507 See above under 499508 Ibid104