Electronic Media Association: RSD556 Million Awarded for Media Projects

Media, journalists (BETAPHOTO/NEVENA ZARIC)

The ANEM Association of Independent Electronic Media reported on May 27 that so far 45 units of local government have distributed funds based on calls for financing for media content projects in Serbia for 2026, in the total amount of over RSD556 million.

ANEM stressed that three local government units -- Surdulica, Vrbac and Gadzin Han -- have still not published their calls for funding for this year, even though the deadline was March 1. In the first 45 completed grant calls, ANEM's analysis shows, Zona Plus of Nis received the largest amount of funds -- more than RSD27 million, from Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Svrljig and Nis. The Pancevo Radio Television, which got over RSD25 million total from the local governments of Pancevo, Backi Petrovac, Plandiste, Alibunar, Kovin and Opovo, received the second-highest amount.

"More than 20 million dinars from the previous calls were allocated to Televizija Pirot, RTV Novi Pazar, Radio Televizija Kraljevo, and Ibarske Novosti, each receiving nearly RSD20 million, while Radio Televizija Trstenik and Vision Craft from Nis received over 15 million each," ANEM said in a statement, adding that between ten and 15 million dinars were awarded to Vranjska Plus, RTV Vranje, RTV Krusevac, and RTV Caribrod.

Looking at the ownership structure, media outlets belonging to Radoica Milosavljevic's group have received the most public funding so far -- over RSD50 million, for RTV Krusevac, TV Pirot, TV Leskovac, RTV Caribrod, TV Pozega, RTV Brus and Kanal M, ANEM said. On the other hand, the statement added, the publishers of the Alo and Informer tabloids, which have record high numbers of violations of the Journalist Code of Serbia, Alo Media System and Insajder Tim together with subsidiary companies, received a total of over RSD58 million from previous calls.