North Macedonia

National Co-ordinator Gena Teodosievska

gena-teodosievska250x250

North Macedonia
MKRTV

Gena Teodosievska

MKRTV Skopje
tel: +389 2 511 9847

 

MKRTV - Macedonian Radio and Television
Address: Bulevar Goce Delcev, 1000 Skopje
Town/City:  Skopje
tel: 00 389 2 5511798
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
website: mrt.com.mk

Macedonian Radio Television is a public broadcasting company founded by the Parliament. It produces and broadcasts radio and television programs of all genres that satisfy an informational, cultural, educational and recreational remit.

General Managers: Mr. Eftim Gashtov, CEO, Mr. Petar Karanakov, CEO
TV Editor-in-Chief: Mrs. Eli Tanaskovska
Co-productions Dept: Mr. Rade Spasovski
Head of International Relations Department: Mrs. Gena Teodosievska
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Short history

Macedonian Radio was founded on 28th of December, 1944. This date is considered an official beginning of MRT functioning. Macedonian Television, as an integral segment of MRT, was founded on 14th of December, 1964. Till 1993 MRT operated within JRT (Yugoslav Radio & Television). After falling apart of the system, MRT started functioning independently and transmitting programme on its network.

In 1993 MRT became an active member of EBU.

Macedonian Television is composed of two programme services – Channel One and Channel Two (on which programme for the ethnical minorities is broadcasted), Satellite Channel and Parliamentary Channel.

Macedonian Radio is composed of three programme services: Channel One, Channel Two and Channel Three (on which programme for the ethnical minorities is broadcasted) and Satellite Channel.

Being a public service, MRT produces news and current affairs programmes, debates, educational, cultural, documentary, sports, feature and entertainment programmes.

Within the frames of its responsibilities as a public service, MRT also produces programmes for the disabled and people with special needs (news and special programmes for the audience with hearing problems).

The accent of the programme as a whole falls on two major components: affirmation and cherishing of tradition, of spiritual and cultural heritage and values of all ethic communities, as well as preserving of their cultural and national identity and moving towards the European standards and worldly values, this being one of the major liabilities of MRT within the activities and undertakings of the Republic of Macedonia for joining the European associations. Regarding the above mentioned, general preoccupation has always been human rights and freedoms, functioning of the legal state, market economy, etc.

Macedonian Radio and Television probably is the most untypical broadcasting service in Europe, this characteristic resulting from the fact that it broadcasts programmes in nine different languages.

According to the Low on broadcasting adopted in November 2005, MTV broadcasts - on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia - on one channel in Macedonian language and on one in the language of non-majority ethnic community; while MRA broadcasts on two channels in Macedonian language and one in the language of non-majority ethnic community.

The abovementioned programme services for the national minorities in the Republic of Macedonia are provided on the Second Channel of the Macedonian Television and on the Third Channel of the Macedonian Radio.

Macedonian Television offers broadcasting services for the non-majority ethnic communities living in the Republic of Macedonia:

  • Programme in Albanian - 9,5 hours daily (started to broadcast 1967)
  • Programme in Turkish - 2,5 hours daily (started to broadcast 1969),
  • Programme in Serb - 30 minutes three times per week plus 1 hour a month (started to broadcast 1994)
  • Programme in Romany - 30 minutes three times per week, plus 1 hour a month (started to broadcast 1990)
  • Programme in Vlach – 30 minutes three times per week plus 1 hour a month (started to broadcast 1991)
  • Programme in Bosniak – 30 minutes three times per week plus 1 hour a month (started to broadcast 2003)

Macedonian Radio broadcasts programme in languages of all the non-majority ethnic communities living in the Republic of Macedonia:

  • Programme in Albanian – 8,5 hours a day plus 9 hours in weekends (started to broadcast 1948);
  • Programme in Turkish - 5 hours a day (started to broadcast 1945);
  • Programme in Vlach – 30 minutes per day (started to broadcast 1991);
  • Programme in Romany– 30 minutes per day; (started to broadcast 1991);
  • Programme in Serb – 30 minutes per day; (started to broadcast 2003);
  • Programme in Bosniak-30 minutes per day (started to broadcast 2003.)

Additionally, Macedonian Radio broadcasts programmes in Bulgarian and Greek languages.

The Satellite Channel of MRT was founded in 2003.

The present Broadcasting Law, that also regulates the status of MRT, is designed to offer responses to all and any modern and actual needs for operation of one public service in the European spirit. According to this, it really cannot be said that the Law in any way emanates from the Framework Agreement. Best example that illustrates this is the fact that the first news in Albanian were transmitted on the Macedonian Radio in 1948 – one year before foundation of the Albanian Radio and Television.

The technique MKRTV functions on is Beta SP. The News sector works 50% on digital technology.

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Both Macedonian Radio and Macedonian Television always try to do their best in satisfying citizens’ needs and interests in all the domains of life: policy, economy, culture, art entertainment and education.

Within the region, Macedonian Radio & Television is particularly distinguished by the characteristics of its documentary film which, as a genre, has supported numerous authors on their path towards recognition outside Macedonia’s borders; the Macedonian authors of documentaries are frequently awarded prizes at international festivals. In addition, the Macedonian Radio & Television has always been in contact with young artists, supporting their artistic expressions in the domains of expert film and video art. Next, Macedonian Radio & Television, in the role of both producer and co-producer, enters the production of feature-length film, although, unfortunately, because of its critical financial circumstances, it has participated in only two feature film projects in the course of the last year. Due to its financial difficulties, the role of MKRTV as a co-producer mostly is that of offering professional and technical support.

MKRTV is a member of EBU, Circom-Regional, COPEAM.

The International and Co-production department is very active on the fields of TV and Radio International Co production on the relevant issues for the Balkans and other issues concerns the citizens of Republic of Macedonia.

We can mentioned:” Together we can “ , the co production magazine made by MKRTV (North Macedonia), RTVSH (Albania), ATV (Alternativna Teleizija (Republica Srpska), Studio B (Serbia), Tele Chiara, Zeta Video and RetteVeneta (Italy) 2004.
“Balkans on the air-Television for social integration” in 2007, financed by Cards program of European Commission, also with the same partners.

At the moment with the colleagues of the First and third Program of Macedonian radio ( on Macedonian and Albanian language) we are finishing the international co production project “ I live in the Balkans” with our radio documentary production” Swastika Code on the Bible road”

Macedonian Radio Television is also dedicated on some co productions with the independent yang artists and directors of creative documentaries and short experimental films.

At the moment MKRTV has 814 employees.

The media environment in Macedonia

Legally, television in North Macedonia consists of public , commercial and non – profit terrestrial stations as well as cable and satellite networks. The public broadcaster is beset by problems so profound that it is hard to see how they can resolved. Despite a drown –out process of restructuring , public service broadcasting is still paralysed by crisis in the areas of financing , personnel and programming.

Comercional television dominates the ratings with a programme output that neither gets close to meeting public service standards, nor stimulates high-quality local production.

The North Macedonian market is still overcrowded, with 114 radio and television stations, and quality of programming is far from satisfactory .

What is still lacking is efficient implementation of concrete measures against those broadcast entities breaking the law , especially as regards ownership, programme standards and advertising .

In 2006 and 2007 , heads of editors were replaced more than once , wich had negative effects on the output and the ratings. MRT`s financial plight is deepening. Licence fee funding , on which MRT partly depends , has collapsed; payment dropped dramatically in 2007 to a mere 0.5 per cent of households.

Funding of Government handouts and the State budget temporary measure that damages the station`s independence . It is also dubious as the State is only allowed to fund specific public service output such as programmes fro the diaspora.

NEW RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE MACEDONIAN RADIO TELEVISION FOR 2008

MRT should develop mechanisms for efficient collection of the licence fee. The Government should support MRT in this endeavour through financial institutions such as the tax collecting authorities.

The MRT Council should order and independent auditof the financial flow in MRT and make the results generally available.

Parliament should amend the Broadcasting Law to introduce legal provisions , to enforce the regulation on concentration of media ownership.

The Broadcasting Council should establish an independent body within the regulator to carry out a new people – metering measurement of audiences , thus providing a clearer picture of the broadcasting market . The body should be financed from a portion of the licence fee collected from viewers.

NOTE:
Recommendation for 2005
The Broadcasting Council together with Macedonian Radio and Television ( MKRTV) and cilil society organisations , including journalists associations , trade unions and the academia should organise public debate about the future of public service broadcasting in Macedonia , to support the process of further transformation in this sphere.
(This recommendation was not followed. It remains pertinent .A broad debate is still needed.)

The new Media law from 2005 included some changes:
Change the system of appointing the MKRTV Council , which is formed from the representatives of the civil society. All the members of the MKRTV Council had to be elected by open competition. Change MKRTV management structure which is composed of the MKRTV Council, the Management board and the General Director