Makedonska radio televizija (MRT)

Type	Broadcast national television network
Country	Macedonia
Availability	National; international (via MKTV Sat)
Founded	1944 (radio), 1964 (television) by Government of SR Macedonia
Slogan	Ова е Македонска Радио Телевизија, ова е Македонија (This is Macedonian Radio Television, this is Macedonia)
Owner	Non-governmental Organization.
Launch date	14 December 1964
Former names	Радио Телевизија Скопје (РТС)
Official website	www.mtv.com.mk

Macedonian Radio Television (Macedonian: Македонска радио телевизија, transliteration: Makedonska radio televizija) (or MRT) is the public broadcasting organization of the Republic of Macedonia. It was founded in 1993 by the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia. Its legally defined service is the production and broadcasting of radio and television programmes of all genres, which should satisfy the public information, cultural, educational and recreational needs of the people of the Republic of Macedonia.

  Organisation

In its structure, Macedonian Radio and Television has the following organisational parts: Macedonian Radio, Macedonian Television, human resources for production and joint services of MRT.

With the new organisational structure, joint sectors and departments have been established, not only for the rationalisation of expenses, but mainly to create and integrated programme of public interest, beginning with the News Department, the joint Archive, the Multicultural Department, Department of multilingual programme, etc.

  The MRT Center in Skopje

  History

The work of Macedonian Radio began on 28 December 1944, under the name of Radio Skopje, with the live broadcast of the Second Session of ASNOM (the highest legislative body of the newly formed state). This date is celebrated as MRT day.

The 14th of December 1964 is officially considered as the start of Macedonian Television (formerly Television Skopje).

In 1993 Macedonian Radio and Television separated from the association of Yugoslav radio and television broadcasters. In July 1993, MRT was admitted as a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union. As a result of a naming dispute with Greece of the 'Macedonia' name, MRT was admitted only under the acronym: MKRTV.

With the enactment of new broadcasting law on 24 April 1997, Macedonian Radio and Television was split into two parts: Macedonian radio-diffusion and Macedonian Radio-Television. According to article 77 of the broadcasting law, 61% of the collected broadcasting tax belongs to Macedonian Radio Television.

  The future

MRT has made significant changes recently, including a strong push to become independent from the Government. While legally not affiliated with the government, its major source of funding is from the Government's licensing fee, which the government collects, but is not legally required to turn over to MRT. MRT is seeking legislative changes to require the licensing fee be paid to the public broadcaster, MRT, so the government cannot hold sway over MRT.

  Radio

Macedonian Radio broadcasts 86.5 hours of programmes daily on its three channels, and on the satellite channel.

The First channel broadcasts a continuous 24-hour programme.

The Second channel, Radio 2, broadcasts a continuous 24 hour programme, too.

The satellite channel of Macedonian Radio commenced in July 2003, and broadcasts a 24-hour continual programme, which is a selection of programmes from Macedonian Radio and its original programme "Radio Macedonia" with a duration of 6 hours and 30 minutes.

Macedonian Radio broadcasts programmes in all the languages of the national minorities in the Republic of Macedonia, including Albanian (from 1948) ; Turkish (from 1945) 5 hours; Vlach (from 1991); Romany (from 1991); Serbian (from 2003) and Bosnian (from 2003) all 30 minutes each per day. Programmes in Serbian are also broadcast in the "Radio Macedonia" slot. The website of the Macedonian Radio and Television also features news in these languages respectively.

Macedonian Radio also broadcasts its programme over the Internet.

  Management

MRT is now directed by Petar Karanakov. An industry outsider, Karanakov was selected for his independent politics and strong reputation for integrity and management. Karanakov supervises 1,200 MRT staffers, of which it is estimated 25% are unnecessary, redundant, or non-productive.

  Television

Macedonian Television broadcasts 73 hours of programmes daily on its three channels and on the satellite channel.

The First channel broadcasts a continuous 24-hour programme.

The Second channel broadcasts programmes for the national minorities in the Republic of Macedonia. Albanian, Turkish, as well as programmes in Serbian, Romany, Vlach and Bosnian.

The Third channel or Sobraniski Kanal was formed in 1991 as an experimental channel, but now it broadcasts the activities from the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia.

The satellite channel started in 2000 and broadcasts a continuous 24-hour programme, which are a selection of programmes from MRT, as well as its original programme of 5 hours. The station also broadcasts to Australia & New Zealand through the Optus D2 Satellite via UBI World TV.

  Macedonoids Controversy

In January 2009 the state run television channel aired a 9 minute video named "Macedonian prayer" in which the Christian God is presented calling the people of the Republic of Macedonia the oldest nation on Earth and progenitors of the "white race" who are described as "Macedonoids" in opposition to "Negroids" and "Mongoloids". The video goes on to say that:

Our neighbors distributed thousands of books across the world, containing false history and portraying wrong picture about Macedonia...Only you know our pain, our suffering. Only you know who we are, what we are and why we are Macedonians.

There are further promises that the Christian God will resurrect Alexander the Great so that once again the "Macedonoids" may rule over the Earth.^[1] Niche Dimovski, the vice-president of the World Macedonian Congress, wrote and produced the prayer.^[2]

  See also

• MRT Center

  References

  External links

• Macedonia Radio-Television

Macedonian media News agencies Public: Macedonian Information Agency Private: Macedonian Information Centre  · Makfax · Net Press TV channels Public: Macedonian Radio-Television  · MTV 1  · MTV 2  · MTV 3  · MKTV Sat Private: A2  · Kanal 5  · Kanal 5 plus  · Sitel  · Sitel 3  · Telma  · Alfa  · Naša TV  · Makspot  · Alsat M  · Sky Net  · Kiss TV  · MTV Adria  · Tera Former A1 Radio stations Public: MR 1  · MR 2  · MR 3  · MR int Private: Antenna 5  · Kanal 77  · Kanal 4  · City Radio  · Buba Mara Newspapers Daily: Nova Makedonija  · Utrinski Vesnik  · Dnevnik  · Vreme  · Večer  · Vest  · Špic  · Koha Weekly: Forum  · Globus  · Svedok  · Tea Moderna  · Aktuel  · Start  · Makedonsko Sonce