BHRT on its 81st birthday: If BiH wants to have its public broadcaster - now is the time to show it

(Patria) - Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) has launched a campaign on its 81st birthday, inviting partners and friends to financially support the fight for the preservation of the public media service of BiH.

BHRT remains determined to continue the fight for survival despite years of unfavorable circumstances it has been placed in through no fault of its own.

"Last year, while celebrating its 80th anniversary, there was hope that solutions existed. BHRT enters its 81st birthday with a warning, but also with concrete progress.

The Commercial Court in Banja Luka has issued the first legally binding verdict in favor of BHRT, according to which Radio Television of Republika Srpska must pay 5.4 million KM for RTV fees within 30 days.

However, this is only a part of the total debt of RTRs, which exceeds 104 million KM, and which has burdened BHRT's operations for years, preventing its stable and uninterrupted functioning," the statement said.

BHRT emphasizes that this is not just about preserving a radio and television broadcaster, but about preserving a signal that has connected Bosnia and Herzegovina for decades, in good times and bad.

In the coming period, BHRT will address lower-level government institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the diaspora, businessmen, and other entities with a special letter, aiming to initiate joint activities for the preservation of the public service.

"The question this campaign raises is whether Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to have its public broadcaster. If it does - now is the time to show it," they stated.

BHRT warns that by shutting down its signal, not only one media outlet is being extinguished, but also the space in which this country speaks about itself.

"The campaign motto is 'Let's not let others tell our stories'," BHRT announced.