Law on Public Service Media
Governs the status, public role, organisation and funding of RTS and RTV. It helps explain their obligations to the public and distinguish funding rules from fee-collection legislation.
Avangarda does not provide legal representation. These materials are here to inform and to make rights easier to understand. For a concrete legal procedure, contact a lawyer, legal aid service or the relevant institution.
Media / public service and public interest
Serbia’s law governs the public role, organisation and funding of Radio Television of Serbia and Radio Television of Vojvodina. Their function is connected with public interest, beyond commercial programme provision. The text helps examine obligations, governance structure and funding sources, distinguishing content questions from payment questions.
Viewers and listeners can understand expectations of public service media and their relationship to society’s different needs. Employees, governing bodies and institutions have particular responsibilities. Paying a fee does not itself authorise a citizen to control individual editorial decisions or manage the broadcaster. Programme violations may also involve the Law on Electronic Media, while privacy or compensation have separate legal bases.
Identify whether the issue concerns programming, governance, a financial obligation or exemption. Record specific content, or retain the bill and documents supporting an application. Check the broadcaster’s, regulator’s or another body’s jurisdiction. Fee and exemption conditions should be checked in current provisions and distinguished from the separate legislation on collection. Every personal status does not automatically qualify for exemption.
The current series begins with Official Gazette 83/2014 and includes confirmed recent amendments 109/2025 and 80/2026. Parliament’s enacted 80/2026 text confirms the previous series and provides partial budget funding for RTV until 31 December 2027. This does not automatically abolish all other funding sources or user obligations. It also changes a financing provision by adding “at least”.
A ministry catalogue listing only amendments through 51/2025 is insufficient for the latest status. Read the specific official Legal Information System source with enacted parliamentary amendments. Historical bills or proceedings require examination of their applicable temporal and special rules.
This is Avangarda’s editorial information overview, rather than the statutory text or advice for an individual case. This translation is editorial and is not an official translation of Serbian legislation. Check the current official text, special legislation and your documents for a specific situation, and obtain qualified legal assistance where needed.
What is this for?
Helps understand RTS and RTV’s public role, governance, funding and checking fee conditions.
Who can use it?
Viewers, listeners, fee payers, employees, governing bodies, journalists and representatives.
When should it be used?
For programming or public-interest concerns, payment obligations, possible exemptions and recent amendments.