Croatia

[HR] Rulebook on Special Conditions for Performance of Radio and Television Activities

IRIS 2008-3:1/21

Nives Zvonarić

Ministry of Culture, Zagreb, Croatia

In October 2007, according to the provisions of the Izmjene i dopune Zakona o elektroničkim medijima (Law on amendments of the Law on Electronic Media, see IRIS 2007-6: 13 and IRIS 2007-9: 15), the Council for Electronic Media adopted a “Rulebook on special technical, spatial, financial and personnel conditions for performance of radio and television activities”.

The Rulebook stipulates a number of minimum requirements for television and radio broadcasters operating at state, regional, county, city, municipality or other concession levels set by special regulations, in particular as regards their premises and financial basis.

For the performance of television activities a television broadcaster has to insure minimal spatial conditions. He has to provide: a separate room for each member of the management and/or the editor in chief, the editing, studios, the journalists and the marketing as well as auxiliary space. A separate room for book-keeping is also required, if the broadcaster performs carries out its own book-keeping. On the level of municipality and city broadcasters the total premises shall have at least 50 m². On the level of county broadcasting licensees and in the City of Zagreb the premises space shall have a minimum of 80 m², on the regional level at least 90 m², and on the state level at least 100 m². For broadcasting on other levels the Council for Electronic Media will decide on the minimum room to be provided by the broadcaster.

As regards financial minimum standards, a television broadcaster has to ensure basic financial resources of an amount sufficient for the broadcaster’s expenses for three months - the sum is dependent upon the concession level and other conditions - according to the broadcasters business plan. The fulfilment of the financial conditions will be evaluated on the basis of the television broadcaster’s business plan, which is to be certified with original documents outlining available or secured financial resources, as well as on creditworthiness and solvency.

The rules further provide for a number of personnel requirements. Thus, a television broadcaster has to have an editor in chief and a director/president of administration/head-master; the same person can fill both roles. Furthermore, the broadcaster should have permanently employed journalists. According to the concession level the personnel requirements are as follows:

a) State, regional, county and city level: an editor in chief, a news programme editor, at least two journalists, at least two cameramen/editors/technicians;

b) County level: an editor in chief, a news programme editor, at least one journalist, at least one cameraman/editor/technician;

c) City level: an editor in chief, a news programme editor/journalist, at least one journalist, one cameraman/editor/technician;

d) Municipality and other levels to be determined by a special regulation: one journalist, one cameraman/editor/technician.

For the performance of non-profit television activities special minimal conditions are applied; they are similar to those for the municipality concession level, except where this activity is performed on a higher concession level or another level determined by special regulation.