Macedonian Radio Television (Makedonska radio-televizija, MRT) is the public broadcaster in North Macedonia. The company was founded by the Macedonian parliament in 1993. Although it officially changed its name to National Broadcasting Service in 2019, the outlet is still widely known as MRT. Therefore, we will continue to use MRT in our database.
Media assets
Television: MRT 1, MRT 2, MRT 3, MRT 4, MRT 5, MRT Sobraniski Kanal, MRT 1 Sat, MRT 2 Sat
Radio: MR 1, MR 2, MR 3, MR Sat
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
The Republic of North Macedonia founded MRT and operates the broadcaster as a public enterprise. The station is governed by the Law on Audio and Audio-Visual Media Services (LAAVMS).
The primary governing body at MRT is the Programme Council, which consists of 13 members appointed by Parliament based on nominations from legally authorized institutions. The appointments require a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The involvement of civil society organizations in proposing candidates is meant to prevent government control over MRT’s governing bodies. However, independent journalists and civil society organizations have criticized the council members in recent years, claiming that they have failed to comply with legal requirements and have shown political bias.
The broadcaster also has a Supervisory Board, the second most important body at the MRT. It is comprised of seven members chosen by the MRT Programming Council through an open competition. The Director General is also selected by the MRT Programming Council through an open competition.
Source of funding and budget
According to the Public Revenue Office in North Macedonia, MRT has been one of the country’s largest debtors in recent years.
Starting in 2018, a new funding model was implemented for the MRT, which specified that it would be supported by a state subsidy equivalent to a certain percentage of the country’s general budget. Previously, the broadcaster relied mainly on revenue from a monthly license fee of €3. However, due to difficulties in collecting this fee, the authorities decided to change the funding model. Between 2018 and 2019, the budget allocation varied from 0.8% to 1% of the total state budget, averaging €25m per year, as indicated by a study.
Between 2018 and 2019, the budget allocation ranged between 0.8% and 1% of the total state budget, an average of €25m a year, according to a study.
In 2023, MRT operated with a total budget of MKD 1.14bn (US$ 21.4m), according to a report from the broadcaster. Almost 90% of that represents state funding allocated from the government budget.
Editorial independence
The LAAVMS, the MRT Statute, and its Code of Ethics outline numerous responsibilities and obligations regarding MRT’s programming, but none of them guarantees the broadcaster’s editorial independence.
In spite of several attempts to reform the MRT’s governance and funding model, the broadcaster continues to be criticized for political bias. International organizations have repeatedly condemned its biased coverage of elections.
August 2024