SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITALIZATON OF THE REGIONAL TELEVISIONS THROUGH THE PRISM OF LEGISLATIVE BROADCASTING: THE CASE OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

In recent years, the European and Macedonian television etherare experiencing major changes. The process of digitalization of television has been completed in most European countries, while in a smaller number it is still ongoing. Digitalization of television means production, transmission and reception of television programs in digital form through the use of digital methods for modulation and signal processing. The process of digitalization of televisions in the Republic of North Macedonia was carried out during 2013, although the first scenario for digitalization was to be completed by the end of 2012. By decision of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, analog signals were switched off on 31 May 2013, and The very next day, on June 1, 2013, the digital broadcasting started. From a legal point of view, this process passed without enough public debate, media managers were brought before a final act, and at the last minute they were forced to sign contracts and documents for the transition from analog to digital signal. This was especially negatively reflected on the work of the regional televisions whose programs, under very unfavorable financial conditions, are distributed by a digital public communication network operator. The Association for Private Media of the Republic of North Macedonia, at the time of the adoption of the regulations, categorically states that the current conditions for digitalization are too much for the televisions, above all economically unjustified and completely unacceptable in the current situation. Additionally, the frequency spectrum management in the Republic of North Macedonia is under the competence of a special regulator - the Agency for Electronic Communications, which is also an independent regulatory body, while the decisions for issuing licenses in the broadcasting area are made by the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (previously Broadcasting Tip). The main claim of this research is that a strategically designed regulatory policy, if it strives to achieve media and cultural pluralism, in the implementation of the digitalization process, must take into account the conditions for economic sustainability and development of regional television. The main goal of this research is an analysis of the process of digitalization of terrestrial televisions, which was conducted during 2013 by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the regulatory bodies of the broadcasting activity. A qualitative research strategy will be applied in the research. The following methods for data collection or analysis will be used: qualitative analysis of documents; analysis of secondary data; in-depth interviews with owners or managers of regional televisions and in-depth interviews with experts in the field of media policy and in the field of management and broadcasting; qualitative analysis of interview transcripts. Regional televisions are a very important factor in informing the citizens in the regions where they are broadcast. The survival of regional televisions should be a concern, above all for the central government, but also for the local one. Thereby, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the regional televisions. The purpose of this paper was to present the real situation, as well as the important role of regional televisions in the Republic of North Macedonia, but also to point out recommendations for their continuous sustainability. In addition to the above conclusions and recommendations, it is necessary to keep in mind that this is a particularly sensitive topic that is presented in this paper in the simplest possible way. However, due to its complexity and importance, the need to deepen research in this area is pointed out in order to contribute to the development of a more effective strategy, plan and guidelines for creating positive conditions for sustainability and development of regional televisions.