LOCAL TV STATIONS TO STOP PROGRAMME TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH ATV

ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - Members of the National Association of Television Houses (NUT) will terminate broadcasting their programmes for 15 minutes from 09.15 to 09.30 pm Friday to show solidarity with local television in Split, ATV, which was forced to stop broadcasting its programme on January 29 due to its failure to pay frequency fees on time. The NUT members will also take such action in protest over impossibility to be in conformity with the current law on telecommunications. The aim of the action is to initiate amendments to the law on telecommunications, as it is impossible that TV stations have to pay extremely high fees for frequencies and concessions a year in advance, and in case they are in arrears for 15 days, the TV stations are closed, while state ministries meet their financial obligations with three, four and even more months in arrears, the NUT president Zvonimir Kabelka told a news conference on Friday. He dismissed any political dimension to this action. On 29 January, the state inspector switched off relays of the Split ATV television after they had got into arrears with their frequency fees. The ATV programme was terminated several hours before the appearance of the Croatian Social and Liberal Party leader, Drazen Budisa, in a broadcast "Censorship". The ATV director, Andjelko Gabric, said that the closure of the ATV due to its failure to pay the fee was legally justified, but described the act as arrogant and haughty. Gabric advocated amendments to the law and opposed attempts to politicise the case. (hina) mm ms