ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The HRTL company, consisting of the German RTL television company and Croatia's Agrokor, Podravka, Atlantic Group, HVB/Splitska Bank, and Pinta TV3, has been given a 10-year concession for national
broadcasting in Croatia.
ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The HRTL company, consisting of the German
RTL television company and Croatia's Agrokor, Podravka, Atlantic
Group, HVB/Splitska Bank, and Pinta TV3, has been given a 10-year
concession for national broadcasting in Croatia. #L#
HRTL was selected among seven candidates by the Croatian Radio and
Television Council, which chose HRTL's bid at a session on
Tuesday.
The selected concession-holder won five out of nine votes from the
Council in the second round, when it competed with TV Moslavina,
which mustered two ballots. Another two ballots were blank.
HRTL beat, among others, the Rovita company, whose backer was
British media magnate Robert Murdock.
The annual fee for the concession for Croatian Television's third
channel is 300,000 kuna, plus 100,000 for the use of the frequency.
Board member Dobrivoj Kleber said HRTL would start broadcasting an
"entertaining and merry programme" in six months' time, with plenty
of domestic production.
"What we can promise is that this will be a television with a
Croatian programme aimed at Croatian viewers," said Hans Mahr, RTL
director for Germany. He added the entire process of granting the
concession had been open and fair, which he said was a good step for
the development of television in Central Europe.
Entering its bid for the concession several months ago, HRTL
announced it would invest about EUR30 million in the first year,
employ a staff of 150, and open offices in Osijek, Rijeka, Split,
and Dubrovnik.
HRTL says its focus will be Croatian soaps, entertainment and
children's programmes.
The Luxembourg-based RTL has 23 television and 22 radio stations in
eight European countries.
(EUR1 = 7.5 kuna)
(hina) ms/ha