Radio Television of Serbia

Infobox Network
network_name = Радио-телевизија Србије (РТС)
"Radio-televizija Srbije (RTS)"
network_
country = flag|Serbia
network_type = Radio and television
available = National
International (via RTS SAT and rts.rs)
owner =
key_people = Aleksandar Tijanić (General-Director)
Nenad Lj. Stefanović (head of news division)
launch_date = March 24, 1929 (radio)
August 23, 1958 (television)
founder =
slogan = Vaše pravo da znate sve
(Your right to know everything)
motto =
past_names = Radio-televizija Beograd (RTB) (1958-1992)
website = [http://www.rts.rs/ www.rts.rs] Radio Television of Serbia ( _sr. Радио-телевизија Србије (PTC) or " _sr. Radio-televizija Srbije") is the public broadcaster in Serbia. It broadcasts and produces a variety of news, drama, and sports programming through radio, television and the Internet. RTS is since July 2001 a member of the European Broadcasting Union. RTS is also the biggest broadcaster in the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans. Formerly, it was known as Radio Television Belgrade (RTB).

History

Radio Belgrade started broadcasting in 1929, and this is considered the founding moment of the Serbian broadcasting system. The first news announcer in 1929 was Jelena Biblija. After World War II, Radio Television Belgrade (RTB), consisting of Radio Belgrade and Television Belgrade (TVB) was established as a result of the decision by the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Serbia on February 13, 1958. This came after the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's government decision of 1956 to invest in a television network.

23 August 1958 was the date of the first televised broadcast. It was the "Dnevnik" (Journal) news programme. The first people to appear on the new TV station were Miloje Orlović, Branislav Surutka, Olga Nadj, Olivera Živković and Vera Milovanović. The first RTB program was broadcast from Beogradski sajam (Belgrade fair) and from a new TV Studio build there. As of 1961, RTS used the delayed airing equipment (quadruplex VTR). The Sixties saw dramatic development in all genres of TV programs. TVB became famous by its sitcoms (directed and written by Radivoje-Lola Djukić, Novak Novak and others (unfortunately, only a small percentage of this production is preserved, due to implicit censorship and lack of tapes). Also, TVB had excellent documentary program (series "Karavan", "Reflektor" and others) and quizzes. By 1970 the entire territory of Serbia was covered by the RTS signal. On December 31, 1971, TVB started with broadcast in PAL color system on its second network. A new AM broadcast equipment in Zvecka, Obrenovac, with 2000 kW transmitter was erected in 1976.

After the political turmoil in seventies (against the "liberals") the program of RTB became more sterile, however, in eighties it reached the zenith.

The Slobodan Milošević era

The establishment of regime of Slobodan Milošević led RTB to the worst days in its history. Hundreds of experienced journalists and other creative people were first sent to lay-offs and then fired since they could not agree with propaganda broadcast on RTB frequencies. In 1992 RTB, together with Radio Televizija Novi Sad (RTNS) and Radio Televizija Pristina (RTP) became a part of Radio Television of Serbia, centralized and closely governed network aimed to be a loudspeaker for Slobodan Miloševic and his policy. The worst part of TV programming during the nineties was "Dnevnik" (Daily news) which was used to glorify "wise politics of Slobodan Milošević" and to attack "servants of Western powers, forces of chaos and desperateness", i.e., Serbian opposition. [ [http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/62/328.html "Serbian state media begins to waver in its support of Milosevic", 05 October 2000] ]

On April 23, 1999, the NATO airforce killed sixteen people, mostly technical staff, when they bombed the RTS headquarters in downtown Belgrade. In 2002, Dragoljub Milanović, the general manager of RTS, was sentenced to 10 years in prison because he ordered the workers to stay in the building despite the knowledge that the building would probably be bombed. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02EFD7103FF931A15755C0A9649C8B63 "New York Times", 22 June 2002] ]

On October 5, 2000, the same RTS building was demolished and partly burned during the riots against Slobodan Milošević. After October 5, 2000, RTS was sometimes called Nova RTS (New RTS) to symbolize the liberation from the control of the Slobodan Milošević regime. [ [http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=1271 City of Belgrade] ]

Iconic programmes

* TV Slagalica (English: TV Puzzle) is the longest running quiz show in the Balkans. On September 22, 2008 the quiz show entered its 44th season. It has been on RTS programming for over 14 years and has always been a solid performer in the ratings. [ [http://www.mtsmondo.com/services/tv/download/10-Oktobar2007TOP15emisija.ppt Top 15 najgledanijih emisija - Oktobar 2007, October 2007] ]
* Pozorište u kući (English: Theatre at home) was a comedy series aired on RTS more than 30 years ago. In 2006 the broadcaster decided to remake and continue the show so in 2007 the second season aired (30 years after its first season finished). The show was heavily advertised and held on to generally good ratings.
* Bolji život (English: A better life) is one of the most iconic Yugoslav shows ever produced. Made during the 80's and 90's it works through the problems of a few families. The show brought in huge ratings for the network during its dark days of the 90's and after the production of the show ceased RTS has continually repeated all episodes.

Eurovision Song Contest 2008

"See: 2008 Eurovision Song Contest"

RTS was the host broadcaster of the semi-final and finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Serbia gained the rights to host the contest after Marija Šerifović's 2007 victory in Helsinki, Finland. The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was held in Belgrade. RTS broadcast the event as usual (since 2004) on RTS1. The host couple were Jovana Janković and Željko Joksimović. The rating of the final of Eurovision was overwhelming with 4,560,000 people tuning in to watch making it the most watched event on Serbian television as well as on RTS. [ [http://www.mtsmondo.com/services/tv/tvStory.php?vest=98144 "Evroviziju na RTS-u gledalo 4.560.000 ljudi!", May 26, 2008] ]

RTS today

The system is officially divided into the Vojvodina and Serbia public broadcasting systems as of May 2006. This is to mark a transition from a state-owned to a public broadcaster. This bears legal and practical connotation, in terms of control and financing. RTS now consists of two channels instead of three. These changes were imposed on May 5, 2006 when RTS was divided in two parts: JSS (Public Service of Serbia) and JSV (Public Service of Vojvodina).

Televizija Beograd, a part of RTS with headquarters in Belgrade have several TV studios: in addition to two largest studios on Kosutnjak (studio VIII and IX), there is also TV studio (Studio IV) on Belgrade Fair, historically the first TV studio in Serbia, and several studios in Aberdareva St. (some of these studio have been destroyed during NATO attack).

Televizija Beograd has large archives of TV programs. In addition to 5000+ old VTR quadruplex tapes, the archive contains tapes in VTR-C (helicoidal), umatic, beta-SP and digital formats. Also, the archive contains extensive collection of newsreels, short filmed stories, and feature films on 16mm and 35mm tapes. This archive required urgent protection, since tapes are not kept in proper conditions, and since Televizija Beograd does not have proper equipment to transfer the programs to newer media (the situation is especially critical for quadruplex and film archive). A part of Televizija Beograd is also PGP-RTS, production of gramophone records (now produces CDs, VHS tapes and DVDs). PGP-RTS started with production in 1958 under the name PGP-RTB, with the LP record of Đorđe Marjanović, and used to be one of two largest record labels in former Yugoslavia.

In early 2006 RTS decided to shut down one of its television channels. It was 3K (Treći kanal RTS-a), which was a music and sports channel.

In 2007 BBC World Service Trust launched an extensive training programme at Serbia's national broadcaster. This 30-month project, which is funded by the European Union, is providing extensive journalism, craft and management training to all levels of staff at the national broadcaster. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/europe/story/2007/10/070921_serbia_rts.shtml "Transforming national broadcasting in Serbia", 04 October 2007] ]

2008

In 2008 RTS will undergo major changes. The biggest change will be that in 2008 it will become Serbia's first network to use HDTV (high-definition television). It has also invested millions in new technology. The new high-definition television system will be in place by April 2008. [ [http://www.mtsmondo.com/services/tv/tvStory.php?vest=77080 "Tijanić: Sa RTS-a proterane španske serije", November 2007] ] During 2008 the networks web presentations was greately improved. Furthermore RTS has bought right to air other HBO shows to be aired on RTS1. [ [http://dobanevinosti.blogspot.com/2008/07/televizijska-jesen.html "Televizijka jesen", July 2008] ] By the end of 2008 RTS will receive a complete visual new look which will include the reformatting of all introducing jingles, the logo and the studio layout. [ [http://www.mtsmondo.com/services/tv/tvStory.php?vest=107397 "Stari asovi vodili Dnevnik RTS-a na jubilej", August 2008] ]

RTS has also already bought rights to broadcast the following events in 2008.

* All ratings listed above our based on AGB Nielsen Media Research. All ratings are based upon viewer ratings in Serbia excluding the region of Kosovo.

Taglines

In 2000 after the network stopped being Slobodan Milošević's propaganda outlet the network's new slogan and tagline became "Nova Radio Televizija Srbije" (New Radio Television of Serbia). This stoped after some time when it was established that RTS is no longer heavily government controlled. In 2005 it introduced the slogan "Javni medijski servis evropske Srbije" (The public broadcaster of a European Serbia) in the wake of Serbia's integration into the European community. Late 2007 the network dropped the "European" out of its slogan and its tagline became "Javni medijski servis Srbije, vaše pravo da znate sve" (The public broadcaster of Serbia, your right to know everything). In early 2008 the slogan became controversial. Private television network B92 accused RTS of dropping the "European" out of its slogan because it was following politics from the Democratic Party of Serbia which has become less enthusiastic at the prospect of Serbia joining the EU due to the Kosovo independence issue. A bitter feud between the two networks began and RTS immediately returned the "European" to its slogan broadcasting the small clip numerous times during the day especially during its most watched programme the 19.30 News. Today the network uses both the "Javni medijski servis Srbije, vaše pravo da znate sve" slogan and the "Javni medijski servis evropske Srbije" slogan.

2007-present: Radio Televizija Srbije, vaše pravo da znate sve. ("Radio Television Serbia, your right to know everything.")

2005-present: Javni medijski servis evropske Srbije. ("The public broadcaster of a European Serbia.")

2000-2001: Nova Radio Televizija Srbije. ("New Radio Television of Serbia")

General-directors

This is the list of all General-directors of the Radio Television of Serbia (Radio Television Belgrade) throughout the history. [ [http://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=328260 Istraživanje - Dosije RTS: Očerupani Feniks] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.rts.rs/ Official site]
* [http://www.tvist.tv/english/index.htm History of Television Belgrade]
* [http://www.tvist.tv History of Television Belgrade in Serbian (with video files and photos)]