CROAT JOURNALISTS ASSOC AND NTV DIRECTOR SEND LETTER TO PREMIER

ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - President of the Croatian Journalists Association, Ante Gavranovic and director of NTV (independent television) Silvije Hum, have sent Prime Minister Nikica Valentic a letter citing conclusions from a public debate on the development of private television productions. The debate was held in Zagreb on Saturday, February 18. It was necessary to speed up the advertising for tenders on concessions for electronic media, the letter said. Private television production enriches TV program choices, strengthens competition, and opens the way to new working positions. It was also generally important to Croatia as a pluralistic and democratic country. The letter suggested the privatisation of the frequency of Croatian Television's (HRT) third program because State television (HRT) only used half of all the three channels' available air time for broadcasting. (Hina) jn rv sd 232122 MET feb 95