Macedonian report released: the extraordinary decline of public service broadcasting

Despite a drawn-out and costly restructuring, Macedonian Radio-Television (MRT) is still paralysed by crisis in the areas of financing, personnel and programming. Commercial television, meanwhile, dominates the ratings with schedules that neither get close to public service standards, nor stimulate quality local production.

Yet, ironically, parliament has at long last adopted legislation that brings the country into line with international standards on regulatory independence and public service broadcasting. Likewise positive is the launch of a non-profit broadcast sector, although conditions in Macedonia are so discouraging that only one application for a non-profit licence has been made. Another welcome move was the Broadcasting Council’s adoption of a wide-ranging strategy for broadcast development.

Macedonia has not yet decided how to regulate the transition to digital broadcasting. Unless the government takes rapid action, this process may take shape without regulation, as has already happened in neighbouring Albania.