ZAGREB, June 15 (Hina) - Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) manager Mirko Galic told parliament's House of Representatives on Thursday the transformation of HRT into a public medium called for radical changes in doing business and money.
Speaking about a report by HRT's board of directors on last year's business, Galic said radio-television was abandoning the monopolistic position and had to prepare to face fierce competition on the market. HRT is bulky and expensive, and the extent of its programme exceeds the need, Galic said. The financial situation is unsustainable. Last year HRT recorded losses amounting to 120 million kuna (US$15.2 million), and unless something is done immediately, debts could reach 400 million kuna (US$50.6 million) by year's end. HRT lacks between 15 and 17 million kuna (US$2.2 million) each month and we have started "eating at our own substance," Galic added. The first measures of re
ZAGREB, June 15 (Hina) - Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) manager
Mirko Galic told parliament's House of Representatives on Thursday
the transformation of HRT into a public medium called for radical
changes in doing business and money.
Speaking about a report by HRT's board of directors on last year's
business, Galic said radio-television was abandoning the
monopolistic position and had to prepare to face fierce competition
on the market.
HRT is bulky and expensive, and the extent of its programme exceeds
the need, Galic said.
The financial situation is unsustainable. Last year HRT recorded
losses amounting to 120 million kuna (US$15.2 million), and unless
something is done immediately, debts could reach 400 million kuna
(US$50.6 million) by year's end. HRT lacks between 15 and 17 million
kuna (US$2.2 million) each month and we have started "eating at our
own substance," Galic added.
The first measures of rehabilitation have already been taken,
manager's salaries have been reduced from 100 to seven, rights to
personal cars and representation have also been reduced, while some
contracts have been revised and field cooperation reduced.
According to Galic, said measures will help save 50 million kuna
(US$6.33 million) this year. It will however not be enough unless
subscription is exempt from Value Added Tax.
Changes on HRT require financial stability, which according to
Galic can be achieved either through higher subscription or money
from the state budget.
Galic believes HRT can be entirely restructured only after a new HRT
law is passed. In the process, HRT's independence must be preserved
and HRT enabled to operate as a public service.
The process has begun, the standards of objectivity and pluralism
have been introduced and the programme is being depoliticised,
Galic said, adding the transformation from state into public
television was taking place in a difficult and complex economic
environment.
Parliament's House of Representatives resumed today's session by
discussing the HRT report and another one, by the State Audit
Bureau, on the auditing of HRT's business.
(hina) ha jn