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Croatian Radiotelevision
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Hrvatska radiotelevizija (abbr. HRT), or Croatian Radiotelevision, is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. HRT is divided into three joint companies – Croatian Radio (Hrvatski radio), Croatian Television (Hrvatska televizija) and Music Production (Glazbena proizvodnja), which includes three orchestras (Symphony, Jazz, and Tamburitza) and a choir.
Key Information
The founder of HRT is the Republic of Croatia which exercises its founder's rights through the Croatian Government. Croatian Radio (then Radio Zagreb) was founded on 15 May 1926. This date is considered the date on which HRT was founded. Television Zagreb (today Croatian Television) began broadcasting on 7 September 1956. By the law enacted by the Croatian Parliament on 29 June 1990, Radio Television Zagreb was renamed to Croatian Radiotelevision.
HRT operates as a provider of public broadcasting services, and Croatia provides independent funding by the Croatian Broadcasting Company Law and the State Aid Rules for Public Broadcasting Services. In carrying out its activities, HRT is independent of any political influence and commercial interest.
On 25 May 2012, HRT's archive of the television and radio program and its collection of musical production was given the status of Croatian cultural heritage.
History
[edit]
Croatian Radiotelevision is the direct successor of Radio Station Zagreb (Radio stanica Zagreb) that started broadcasting on 15 May 1926, the second radio station to broadcast in the Balkans.[3] The station was initially a private company, before Radio Zagreb was nationalized on 1 May 1940. During the Independent State of Croatia, the station was known as Hrvatski krugoval. After World War II, it began to operate as a state-owned radio station.
At the end of the first year of operation, Radio Zagreb company had a little over four thousand subscribers.
On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Zagreb Radio Station, on 15 May 1956, the first television programme was broadcast from the transmitter built at Sljeme. Television Zagreb's first live broadcast aired on 7 September 1956, making Croatia the first Yugoslav republic to have television.[4] For the next two years this was the only television broadcasting service in the southeast European area. Colour television broadcasts began in 1972. In 1970s, Radio Zagreb Correspondence Center and to a lesser extent Zagreb TV were the main coordinators of cooperation with other units of the Yugoslav Radio Television in production of media content for numerous Yugoslav citizens abroad.[5] The program was aired by Radio Cologne, Frankfurt, Free Berlin, Zurich, Vienna, Paris, Liege, Luxembourg, Hilversum and Stockholm while the second program of the German public television aired Zagreb made "Good Morning Yugoslavia" show.[5]
In May 1990, following Franjo Tuđman's election victory, he and his ruling Croatian Democratic Union party began a takeover of radio and television stations.[6] In June 1990, the Croatian Parliament renamed the company from Radio Television Zagreb (Croatian: Radiotelevizija Zagreb) to Croatian Radiotelevision (Croatian: Hrvatska radiotelevizija). The HDZ-majority Croatian Parliament soon appointed party loyalists to top managerial and editorial positions on the broadcaster.[7]
The film director Antun Vrdoljak, a Tuđman appointee who was tasked with overseeing the changes, pledged to make HRT into the "cathedral of the Croatian spirit".[7] On 16 September 1991, 300 employees at HRT were fired for "security reasons".[7] According to Miljenko Jergović, formerly of the Croatian independent Feral Tribune, there were three waves of purges at HRT at this time: removal of Serb journalists; removal of "independent-minded, respected and thus dangerous" journalists; and slowly, the removal of those who did not support ultranationalism any longer.[7]
On 1 January 1993, HRT was admitted as a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).[2]
The television channels were aired under the name Croatian Television (Croatian: Hrvatska televizija) between 1990 and 1993. Since then, the current name has been used. The radio broadcast unit is referred to as Croatian Radio (Croatian: Hrvatski radio).
Following Tuđman's death and the 2000 election in Croatia which brought Stjepan Mesić to power, attempts at reforming HRT into a more open media were made.[8]
Funding
[edit]In 2014, more than 85%[1] of HRT's revenue came from broadcast user fees with each household in Croatia required to pay 79 HRK (~€10) per month for a single television set, with the remainder being made up from limited advertising.[9]
Television
[edit]Channels
[edit]- HRT 1 (or Prvi program): HRT's first TV channel, previously known as TVZ 1. This is a general channel with daily news around the world, documentaries, religious programmes, series and movies.
- HRT 2 (or Drugi program): HRT's second channel, previously known as TVZ 2. It is primarily used for sports broadcasts and entertainment programmes. The channel is known for its extensive footage of vintage films. It also broadcasts educational programmes.
- HRT 3 (or Treći program): HRT's third channel, primarily used for culture, films, children's shows and documentaries. It was relaunched in September 2012.[10]
- HRT 4 (or Četvrti program): HRT's fourth channel, broadcasting news programmes, started airing in December 2012.[11]
- HRT International, formerly HRT 5 (or Peti program): HRT's fifth and international channel, broadcasting a wide range of programmes from its domestic channels for the Croatian diasporas in Europe, North America, South America, Australia and New Zealand.[12]
In the 1980s, there was a third channel called Z3 and later HTV Z3. It was taken off-air on 16 September 1991 when its main transmitter, the Sljeme TV tower, was damaged in an air raid. On 7 November 1994, the channel came back on the air, this time called HRT 3. The channel was later shut down with its frequency de-nationalized and put up for lease in a public tender in 2004 and it has been used by RTL Televizija ever since. It was replaced by satellite channel HRT Plus until its relaunch in 2012.
Regional TV channels
[edit]- HRT Čakovec-Varaždin (HRT regionalni centar Čakovec-Varaždin)
- HRT Osijek (HRT regionalni centar Osijek)
- HRT Rijeka-Pula (HRT regionalni centar Rijeka-Pula)
- HRT Split-Dubrovnik (HRT regionalni centar Split-Dubrovnik)
- HRT Zadar-Šibenik-Knin (HRT regionalni centar Zadar-Šibenik-Knin)
Streaming
[edit]In October 2015, HRT Launched HRTi, an over-the-top streaming service free to all registered users. HRTi offers a live stream of HRT's television and radio channels, as well as access to select catalogue of HRT's original and acquired programming.[13]
Programming
[edit]

- Dnevnik HRT (lit. 'Daily News'), popular midday, evening and midnight news program
- Dobro jutro, Hrvatska (lit. 'Good Morning, Croatia'), mosaic morning show from 7:00 to 9:00 am
- Dobar dan, Hrvatska (lit. 'Good Afternoon, Croatia'), mosaic afternoon show
- Nedjeljom u dva (lit. 'Sunday at Two O'Clock'), weekly talk show
- Transfer, show about the alternative culture and arts (visual arts, music and web culture)
- TV kalendar (lit. 'TV Calendar'), long-running daily historical documentary television series, narrating about historical events, birth/death of people or their discoveries on the same date
- Tko želi biti milijunaš? (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?), quiz show
- Zvijezde pjevaju (lit. 'Just the Two of Us'), big Saturday singing show
- Lijepom Našom (lit. 'Our Beautiful'), a show focused on Croatian cultural heritage
- Otvoreno (lit. 'Openly'), daily political talk show
Former shows
[edit]- Dan za danom (lit. 'Day After Day'), mosaic afternoon show
- Kviskoteka (quiz show), hosted by Oliver Mlakar, aired in the 1980s and 1990s, later briefly aired on Nova TV.
- Male tajne velikih majstora kuhinje (lit. 'Small Secrets of Big Chefs')
- Motrišta (lit. 'Points of View'), political informative magazine aired in the 1990s
- The Pyramid, weekly show hosted by Željka Ogresta, winner of Rose d'Or, aired 2004–2008; 2014
- Slika na sliku (lit. 'Frame On Frame'), political magazine aired in the 1990s
- Upitnik (lit. 'Question Mark'), quiz show hosted by Joško Lokas, aired in the 2000s, later briefly aired on Nova TV, taken off-air in 2004
- Turbo Limač Show (lit. 'Kids' Saturday Show'), hosted by Siniša Cmrk
- Željka Ogresta i gosti (lit. 'Željka Ogresta and Guests') (talk show), aired in the start of the 1990s and in the start of the 2000s
- Ples sa zvijezdama (Dancing with the Stars), Saturday dancing show
Radio
[edit]The Croatian Radio (Hrvatski radio) runs three national and eight local (county-level) stations.[14]
National stations
[edit]The three national stations are available on FM, DAB+, throughout the country and are streamed live via the Internet.
- HR 1 – The primary national-level station, mainly serious programming. News every full hour with oldies and local pop music.
- HR 2 – Entertainment programming including popular music, with news followed by traffic reports at the half-hour mark
- HR 3 – Classical music and radio drama
Regional stations
[edit]- HR Dubrovnik – based in Dubrovnik, covers the Dubrovnik-Neretva County
- HR Knin – based in Knin, covers the Šibenik-Knin County
- HR Osijek – based in Osijek, covers the Osijek-Baranja County
- HR Pula – based in Pula, covers the Istria County
- HR Rijeka – based in Rijeka, covers the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
- HR Sljeme – based in Zagreb, covers the city and the counties of the Northern Croatia
- HR Split – based in Split, covers the Split-Dalmatia County
- HR Zadar – based in Zadar, covers the Zadar County
The mediumwave transmitter at Zadar was at one time one of the most powerful in Europe and at nighttime could be heard throughout most of the continent with JRT (Yugoslav) and later HR (Croatian) programming from Zagreb and Pula. However it was badly damaged during the Serbian shelling of the city in the early 1990s, and has operated on somewhat reduced power since on 1134 kHz. Transmitter was rebuilt in 2004. It consists of 4 masts, every is 132 meters high.[15] It was taken off the air on 1 January 2014.
International service
[edit]- Voice of Croatia (Glas Hrvatske): Airs programming for Croatians living abroad, Croatia's minority groups and the international community. While mostly in Croatian, the station also features short news and segments in English, German, Italian, Hungarian, and Spanish at different times of the day.
The Voice of Croatia broadcasts 24 hours a day via the following satellites; in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East on the Eutelsat 13C at 13°E and Eutelsat 16A at 16 degrees east for Central and East Europe.[16][17]
Logos
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Izvješće o poslovanju HRT-a za 2014. godinu" (PDF). Croatian Radiotelevision. 29 July 2015. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ a b "The Evolution of Croatian Radio and Television". 10 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
- ^ Malović, Stjepan; Selnow, Gary W. (2001). The People, Press, and Politics of Croatia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-275-96543-3.
- ^ Lisičar, Hrvoje; Turudić, Marko (2019). Media Law in Croatia. Kluwer Law International B.V. ISBN 978-94-035-0782-8.
- ^ a b William Zimmerman (1987). Open Borders, Nonalignment, and the Political Evolution of Yugoslavia. Princeton University Press. p. 120. ISBN 0-691-07730-4.
- ^ Kurspahić 2003, p. 66.
- ^ a b c d Kurspahić 2003, p. 67.
- ^ Kurspahić 2003, pp. 185–188.
- ^ Circom-regional.org, Funding Arrangements
- ^ "Novi program HRT 3 s emitiranjem počinje u subotu 15. rujna 2012". mvinfo.hr. 14 September 2012.
- ^ "Na Badnjak kreće HRT 4". www.057info.hr. 19 December 2012.
- ^ "How to Access New TV Channel for Croatians Abroad". croatiaweek.com. 14 January 2018.
- ^ "Što nudi HRTi putem mobilnih platformi". glasistrenovine.hr (in Croatian). Glas Istre. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ List of radio programme content providers Archived 2018-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency, retrieved 2011-10-25
- ^ "Navršava se 25 godina od napada na važni odašiljač Grbe". 15 September 2016.
- ^ "Eutelsat 16A". Odašiljači i veze d.o.o. (in Croatian). 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ LyngSat Network (ed.). "Glas Hrvatske". lyngsat.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
Books
[edit]- Kurspahić, Kemal (2003). Prime Time Crime: Balkan Media in War and Peace. U.S. Institute of Peace Press. ISBN 978-1-929-22338-1.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Croatian)
- Zakon o Hrvatskoj radioteleviziji (in Croatian) (Croatian Radiotelevision Act)
Croatian Radiotelevision
View on GrokipediaHistory
Founding and Pre-Independence Era
Croatian Radiotelevision traces its origins to the establishment of Radio Zagreb on May 15, 1926, marking the beginning of organized radio broadcasting in Croatia under the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.[1] The inaugural broadcast commenced at 8:30 PM with the Croatian national anthem performed on piano by composer Krsto Odak, followed by a speech from the station's director, Mijo Alinčić, who emphasized the medium's potential for education and national cohesion.[7] As the second radio station in the kingdom after Radio Beograd, it represented an early adoption of wireless technology in Southeast Europe, initially operating from temporary studios in Zagreb with limited transmission power reaching approximately 100 kilometers.[1] Funding came primarily from license fees and sponsorships, reflecting a public-private model common in interwar Europe.[1] During the interwar period and World War II, Radio Zagreb navigated political upheavals, broadcasting under the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) regime from 1941 to 1945, where it prioritized propaganda aligned with the Ustaše government's nationalist agenda while maintaining technical operations.[8] Post-war, under the socialist Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, the station was reorganized as part of the state-controlled broadcasting system, emphasizing ideological content supportive of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, though it retained a degree of regional programming in the Croatian language.[1] By the 1950s, listener numbers had grown significantly, with daily broadcasts expanding to include news, music, and cultural programs, supported by the construction of more powerful transmitters.[1] Television broadcasting began experimentally in the early 1950s, but regular transmissions commenced on May 15, 1956, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of radio operations, via a transmitter on Sljeme mountain overlooking Zagreb.[8] [9] The first program featured a live relay from Vienna, demonstrating the technology's feasibility, with full domestic programming following on September 7, 1956, as Televizija Zagreb.[1] Integrated into the Yugoslav Radio Television (JRT) network in 1963, it functioned as a regional affiliate, contributing to federal exchanges while producing content tailored to Croatian audiences, including sports, theater adaptations, and educational material.[2] Operations remained under centralized oversight from Belgrade, with content subject to self-censorship to align with Tito-era policies, limiting political dissent but fostering technical advancements like the introduction of color broadcasting in 1971.[10] By the late 1980s, as Yugoslavia faced economic stagnation and ethnic tensions, Radiotelevizija Zagreb—rebranded informally in anticipation of political shifts—had established three regional studios in Split, Osijek, and Rijeka, expanding coverage to over 90% of Croatian territory through relay stations.[1] Annual programming hours exceeded 5,000 for radio and 2,000 for television, funded largely by subscription fees collected via utility bills, though inefficiencies in the federal system prompted calls for greater autonomy.[8] This era solidified the institution's role as a key instrument of information dissemination, cultural preservation, and public service within the multi-ethnic federation.[1]Independence War and Renaming
In June 1990, as Croatia pursued greater autonomy from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Sabor ([Croatian Parliament](/page/Croatian Parliament)) passed legislation renaming Radiotelevizija Zagreb—previously a regional entity within the Yugoslav Radio Television framework—to Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (HRT), establishing it as the prospective national public broadcaster.[1] This renaming aligned with broader political shifts toward sovereignty, formalized by HRT's official withdrawal from Jugoslavenska Radiotelevizija on 3 November 1990.[11] The transition underscored media's role in national identity formation, preceding Croatia's declaration of independence on 25 June 1991.[12] The outbreak of the Croatian War of Independence in 1991 transformed HRT into a critical lifeline for public information amid Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) aggression, with broadcasts focusing on defensive operations, civilian resilience, and territorial losses such as Vukovar.[1] JNA forces occupied or damaged roughly 80% of HRT's transmission infrastructure, including over 30 television translators, severely limiting coverage in occupied regions.[1] HRT journalists faced direct threats, with the Zagreb Broadcasting Centre subjected to artillery fire and field reporters documenting frontline events at great personal risk; multiple staff, including cameramen, were killed or wounded during assignments.[1] A notable incident occurred on 16 September 1991, when a missile destroyed the primary TV transmitter on Mount Sljeme at 4:10 p.m., disrupting signals across central Croatia, yet HRT improvised by operating at reduced power from reserve facilities until full repairs in 1992.[1] In one documented case, an HRT photojournalist fell victim to a Serb sniper in 1991 while capturing evidence of JNA atrocities, highlighting efforts to suppress independent reporting on the conflict's realities.[13] These challenges did not halt HRT's output, which sustained public awareness and morale through persistent radio and television programming, later commemorated in dedicated portals archiving war footage.[14]Post-War Expansion and EU Accession Period
Following the end of the Croatian War of Independence in 1995, Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) prioritized infrastructure rebuilding in war-damaged regions, exemplified by its 1996 takeover of transmitting facilities in Belje, Slavonia, to restore broadcast coverage in affected eastern areas.[1] This effort supported national reconnection and expanded HRT's terrestrial reach amid post-conflict recovery, with the broadcaster maintaining its monopoly on national television until the emergence of private competitor Nova TV in 2000.[15] By 1997, HRT advanced operational expansion through Radio Sljeme's initiation of 24-hour programming in January and test broadcasts of three radio channels via digital T-DAB technology in September, marking early adoption of digital audio standards.[1] In November 1997, the establishment of a satellite earth station at Prisavlje enabled transmission of three television channels and Radio Channel 1 via Eutelsat's Hot Bird 3 satellite, enhancing nationwide and international accessibility.[1] HRT's television services achieved full 24-hour operation across its three channels by October 1999, coinciding with infrastructural investments such as the completion of the Block 30 building at Prisavlje in 2000, which housed advanced studios and senior management.[1] In 2002, legislative separation divided HRT into a core public broadcasting entity and the independent transmission company OIV, while terrestrial HRT 3 was discontinued domestically but offset by satellite expansion of HRT PLUS for broader reach.[1] International outreach grew with the May 2003 launch of 24-hour "Voice of Croatia" radio for expatriate audiences and the September 2003 introduction of "Picture of Croatia" television, both aimed at global Croatian diaspora communities.[1] Technological modernization accelerated in 2004 with digital production studios, outside broadcast vans, and digitization of news operations, followed by the 2005 IPIS project for administrative and production streamlining.[1] As Croatia pursued European Union accession—commencing negotiations in October 2005 and achieving membership on July 1, 2013—HRT underwent regulatory reforms to align with EU broadcasting standards emphasizing pluralism, independence, and competition compliance. The February 8, 2001, Law on Croatian Radio-Television restructured governance to reduce political influence, establishing HRT as a public service broadcaster with obligations for diverse programming and fee-based funding insulated from direct state budget dependency.[16] EU pre-accession screening highlighted necessities for HRT's financing to conform to state aid rules, ensuring no undue market distortion while preserving public service remit.[17] These changes facilitated harmonization with the EU audiovisual media services directive, promoting transparent regulation and cross-border content provisions, though implementation faced scrutiny over sustained editorial autonomy amid domestic political pressures.[16][17]Digital Transition and Recent Reforms (2000s–2025)
In the early 2000s, Croatian Radiotelevizija (HRT) contributed to the initial phases of digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) trials, with experimental broadcasts commencing in select areas by 2002 as part of broader preparations for analog-to-digital migration.[18] A comprehensive national strategy for the analog switchover was formally adopted on July 31, 2008, setting a target for full digital transition by January 1, 2011, to align with European timelines despite Croatia's non-EU status at the time.[19][20] HRT's channels were encoded for the OiV multiplex (later managed by Hrvatska regulatorna agencija za mrežne djelatnosti, HAKOM), enabling simulcast of analog and digital signals during the transition period to minimize disruptions for viewers.[21] Regional analog shutdowns began on January 26, 2010, in zones such as Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar, progressing incrementally to ensure set-top box subsidies and public awareness campaigns reached over 98.5% of households by the nationwide completion on September 30, 2011.[22][21] This shift freed spectrum for digital dividend uses, including mobile broadband, while HRT expanded its offerings to include high-definition feeds and additional channels like HRT 3, launched in digital format in 2012 to diversify cultural and educational programming.[20] Post-switchover, HRT invested in archive digitization, completing the transfer of oldest magnetic tapes—spanning broadcasts from the 1950s onward—to digital formats by February 2024, preserving over decades of footage including cultural staples like the series Gruntovčani.[23] Governance reforms gained momentum after the 2000 elections, which ended Franjo Tuđman's tenure and prompted efforts to depoliticize HRT, reorienting it from state mouthpiece to independent public service with mandates for balanced coverage and pluralism under the 2001 Electronic Media Law and subsequent HRT-specific legislation.[24][25] The 2010 HRT Law formalized a supervisory structure including a Programme Council with civil society input, though amendments through the 2010s addressed funding transparency and editorial autonomy amid criticisms of lingering political influence.[5][26] European Broadcasting Union assessments in 2016 noted progress in audience trust and content reforms but urged safeguards against executive interference in appointments.[27] By the 2020s, financial pressures—exacerbated by advertising revenue declines and subscription arrears—drove structural overhauls, including a 2024 announcement of 30% workforce reductions (approximately 400 positions) to cut costs from €120 million annually, sparking union protests over job security and programming quality.[28][29] A controversial direct state funding agreement supplemented traditional license fees, aiming for sustainability while EU reports highlighted ongoing governance vulnerabilities, such as opaque council selections, though praising steps toward fiscal efficiency and digital adaptation.[29][30] Proposed 2025 law changes seek to embed these reforms, prioritizing technological upgrades and reduced political sway to align with public service ideals amid competition from private and streaming platforms.[30][31]Organizational Structure and Governance
Leadership and Regulatory Oversight
The Director General of Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), Robert Šveb, was appointed on October 20, 2021, by a majority vote of the Croatian Parliament following a public competition process.[32] Šveb, who holds a background in digital engineering and business management with over 25 years of experience, oversees HRT's operations, including its four main directorates for programming, production, technology, and corporate affairs.[33] His appointment came after the dismissal of predecessor Kazimir Bačić amid parliamentary scrutiny, reflecting ongoing political dynamics in HRT's leadership selection.[5] HRT's internal governance is structured under the Croatian Radio Television Law of 2010, as amended, which establishes a Supervisory Board comprising five members serving four-year terms.[5] Four members are appointed by the Croatian Parliament via majority vote based on public competition, while one is elected directly by HRT employees; the board monitors operational compliance and reports to parliamentary oversight bodies.[34] This framework aims to balance professional management with public accountability, though critics have noted instances of parliamentary influence potentially affecting independence, such as board member changes tied to political majorities.[35] Regulatory oversight of HRT falls primarily under the Agency for Electronic Media (AEM), an independent body established by the Electronic Media Act to enforce media pluralism, public interest standards, and compliance across broadcasters.[36] AEM issues licenses, handles complaints, and monitors content obligations for public service providers like HRT, including accessibility measures and advertising rules, without direct operational control over editorial decisions.[37] The agency operates via a council that adopts ordinances aligning with EU audiovisual standards, ensuring HRT's public funding aligns with competition rules while addressing risks of state interference highlighted in European Commission reports.[38]Internal Operations and Workforce
HRT maintains internal operations through specialized divisions for radio and television production, including newsrooms, content creation units, technical broadcasting services, and a centralized business operations sector that handles logistics, finance, and support functions. These are coordinated from its Zagreb headquarters, with additional regional centers in Split, Rijeka, Osijek, Zadar, and other locations facilitating localized programming and transmission.[4][39] The workforce, predominantly comprising journalists, producers, technicians, and administrative staff, numbered around 2,700 employees prior to 2025 reforms.[40] In January 2025, management initiated a consolidation plan to reduce overheads amid financial pressures, targeting over 800 layoffs by March.[41] By early April 2025, 333 staff had departed via mutual terminations and severance agreements, with 123 from core programming roles, shrinking the total to approximately 2,367.[42] These reductions provoked significant pushback from unions and employees, including a March 2025 rally protesting the scale of cuts as detrimental to operational capacity.[43] Union representatives argued the plan undermined job security and public service quality, vowing further actions like coordinated strikes.[44] Separate tensions arose in 2024 when the Supreme Court ruled on the dismissal of union leader Hrvoje Zovko, deeming it a violation of employment protections amid allegations of pretextual grounds.[45] Critics, including staff associations, have highlighted chronic overstaffing and inefficiencies in HRT's structure, attributing them to legacy practices in a state-funded entity resistant to market-driven streamlining.[5] Despite such issues, the broadcaster's newsrooms operate under routines emphasizing editorial independence, though internal evaluations and software implementations for performance assessment were introduced to justify personnel decisions.[46]Funding and Financial Sustainability
Primary Revenue Mechanisms
The primary revenue source for Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) is a compulsory subscription fee, paid monthly by all households, companies, and organizations in Croatia possessing devices capable of receiving radio or television signals, regardless of usage.[5][47] This fee, equivalent to approximately €10.40 to €10.62 per month as of recent assessments, constitutes the majority of HRT's funding, historically exceeding 85% of total revenue in periods like 2014.[48][34] The fee is legally mandated under Croatian law, with HRT's Electronic Media Act specifying its collection and allocation, directing roughly 66% to television operations and 34% to radio. Supplementary revenues derive from commercial activities, including advertising sales on HRT's channels and radio stations, as well as production and licensing of content.[34][49] These sources provide diversification but remain secondary to the subscription fee, which is enforced through mechanisms like billing tied to utility payments or direct enforcement by HRT controllers.[3] Government subsidies or one-off allocations may occur via multi-year contracts, but they do not form the core funding model, which emphasizes user contributions to maintain public service independence.[50]Budgetary Challenges and Reforms
Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (HRT) has encountered persistent financial difficulties since 2010, primarily due to an unchanged subscription fee of approximately €10 monthly, which has failed to keep pace with inflation and operational costs, resulting in declining real revenues and structural deficits.[29] In 2023, HRT's total revenues reached €178.6 million, with €156.1 million derived from license fees paid by households possessing audiovisual devices, yet this funding model has been criticized as outdated and insufficient to sustain public service obligations amid rising expenses for digital transition and content production.[5] These budgetary pressures intensified in the early 2020s, exacerbated by post-pandemic economic strains and stagnant fee collection rates, prompting government interventions that highlighted tensions between financial sustainability and editorial independence.[51] By 2025, HRT's situation had deteriorated further, leading to the adoption of a "Work and Business Consolidation Plan" in September, which mandates reducing the workforce by approximately 30%—from around 2,700 employees to about 1,890 by the end of 2026—through voluntary redundancies and layoffs affecting over 800 staff by March.[41][43] The Croatian government allocated €28 million in the state budget specifically for severance payments to facilitate these cuts, framing them as essential for cost rationalization under the "New Direction" strategy.[40] Reforms aimed at addressing these issues include a proposed overhaul of the Electronic Media Act and HRT's governing framework, with legislation expected by the end of 2025 to establish more stable, independent financing mechanisms decoupled from short-term political influence.[29] Proponents argue this will modernize revenue streams, potentially through adjusted fees or diversified sources, while critics, including media unions, contend that workforce reductions risk compromising programming quality and pluralism, amid allegations of politically motivated interference in public broadcasting governance.[44] Despite these efforts, HRT's reliance on subscription fees—enforced via utility bills but subject to evasion and legal challenges—continues to underscore the need for systemic changes to ensure long-term viability without undue state dependency.[52]Television Operations
Core Channel Portfolio
HRT's core television portfolio comprises four national channels—HRT 1, HRT 2, HRT 3, and HRT 4—that deliver diverse public service programming to Croatian audiences via digital terrestrial broadcasting. These channels collectively emphasize news, education, culture, and entertainment, funded primarily through public fees and advertising, with nationwide coverage achieved through the MUX1 network managed by Odašiljači i veze d.o.o.[53][54] HRT 1, the flagship generalist channel, launched on 15 May 1956 as Television Zagreb, marking the introduction of television in the region with initial test transmissions retransmitting Italian RAI programs from Mount Sljeme starting 29 November 1956. Its schedule includes daily news bulletins, domestic and international series, feature films, talk shows, game shows, sports events, and educational segments, operating 24 hours a day to serve broad family audiences.[1][55] HRT 2, the second channel, began permanent operations in 1972 after test broadcasts from 1966, introducing color television in 1975 and transitioning to 24-hour service by 14 January 2011. It prioritizes cultural and regional content, such as documentaries, drama series, classical music performances, and sports coverage, alongside supplementary news and entertainment to complement HRT 1's mainstream offerings.[1][55] HRT 3, established in 1988, targets specialized audiences with a focus on educational, cultural, and minority-interest programming, including documentaries, alternative films from European and non-Hollywood sources, youth-oriented content, and archival material. Relaunched in its current form on 13 September 2012 after replacing earlier iterations like HRT Plus, it promotes intellectual and artistic depth over commercial appeal.[1][55] HRT 4, a dedicated news channel, debuted on 24 December 2012 to centralize informational output previously scattered across other channels. It provides rolling coverage of domestic and global events, in-depth analysis, live reports, and short-form documentaries, with multilingual segments in English and other languages for broader accessibility, operating 24/7 to enhance HRT's journalistic mandate.[46][55]Programming and Content Strategy
HRT's television content strategy centers on fulfilling public service obligations through diverse, high-quality programming that promotes Croatian cultural identity, national cohesion, and informed citizenship. As mandated by the Law on Croatian Radio-Television, the broadcaster must prioritize educational content, documentaries, and programs serving national minorities and the Croatian diaspora, while ensuring balanced coverage of news and current affairs without undue commercial influence.[56] This approach emphasizes factual reporting verified through authentic sources, as outlined in HRT's internal code of conduct, to maintain public trust amid competition from private media.[57] In its 2013–2017 business strategy, HRT targeted production of enduring genres such as feature films, dramas, and documentaries with permanent cultural value, aiming for reusable content that could be rebroadcast to maximize efficiency and audience reach.[4] News and informational programs form a core pillar, with daily bulletins like Dnevnik providing comprehensive coverage of domestic and international events, supplemented by investigative journalism and public affairs discussions. Educational and cultural programming, including science, arts, and history series, occupies significant airtime to educate across demographics, particularly reversing declining viewership among youth through innovative formats adapted to fragmented media habits.[58] Channel-specific strategies differentiate content to cover broad public needs: HRT 1 serves as the flagship for general-audience programming, blending news, national fiction series, and family-oriented shows; HRT 2 focuses on in-depth cultural, documentary, and classical content; HRT 3 emphasizes entertainment, youth-targeted series, and lighter formats like quizzes and music programs; while HRT 4 dedicates slots to sports events, live transmissions, and specialized interests.[54] This portfolio aims for diversity, with approximately 60% of content produced in-house to control quality and align with public service goals, though critics have noted commercialization pressures leading to imported formats over original output.[59] Digital integration supports linear TV by enabling on-demand access and multimedia extensions, digitizing archives for cross-platform reuse to enhance accessibility without diluting core broadcast priorities.[4]Regional and Digital Extensions
HRT maintains eight regional centers capable of television production, situated in Čakovec-Varaždin, Osijek, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar, Knin-Šibenik, and Dubrovnik.[60] These facilities enable the creation of localized television content, including daily regional news bulletins aired on HRT 1, cultural programs, and coverage of local events tailored to specific geographic and demographic needs.[61] Established to ensure representation of Croatia's regional diversity, the centers produce approximately 10-15% of HRT's overall television output, focusing on issues such as regional politics, economy, and traditions not adequately addressed by national programming from Zagreb.[1] The regional extensions integrate with HRT's national channels by contributing segments to main news programs and dedicated slots, such as "Regija" blocks, fostering audience engagement in peripheral areas.[54] Investments in these centers, including the 2015 opening of the modern Čakovec-Varaždin facility, have enhanced production capabilities with digital studios and mobile reporting units.[62] Digitally, HRT extends its television reach via the HRTi platform, an over-the-top (OTT) service providing live streams of HRT 1, HRT 2, HRT 3, and regional feeds, alongside a 72-hour catch-up archive and select video-on-demand content.[63] Launched around 2018, HRTi supports viewing on web browsers, mobile apps for Android and iOS, and compatible smart devices, with features like multi-device synchronization and subtitles.[64] Access is free for households paying Croatia's mandatory HRT concession fee of approximately 80-100 kuna annually, extending availability to Croatian expatriates in Europe via satellite integration, though geoblocking applies outside the EU for licensed content.[54] This digital extension has increased viewership metrics, with HRT reporting over 1 million monthly active users by 2023, supplementing traditional broadcasts amid rising online consumption.[65]Radio Operations
Domestic Station Network
The domestic radio network of Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) encompasses three national channels—HR1, HR2, and HR3—broadcast nationwide via FM and DAB+ transmitters, supplemented by eight regional stations that deliver localized programming while integrating national feeds.[66][67] These regional outlets primarily serve county-level areas, focusing on local news, cultural events, community issues, and regional dialects to complement the centralized content from Zagreb.[66] The network ensures broad coverage across Croatia's 20 counties through over 200 FM transmitters and emerging DAB+ rollout for national programs.[67] HR1, the flagship national channel, emphasizes informative content including verified news bulletins, popular music, sports coverage, religious programming, and cultural segments, airing daily schedules with frequent updates such as hourly news from 6:00 a.m.[68] HR2 prioritizes cultural depth, featuring classical music, literary discussions, and in-depth news analysis.[69] HR3 targets younger listeners with alternative and jazz-oriented music programming.[70] National channels maintain consistent schedules, with regional insertions for local relevance during peak listening hours. The eight regional stations are structured as follows, each tied to key geographic and administrative divisions:| Station | Primary Coverage Area |
|---|---|
| Radio Sljeme | Zagreb County and central Croatia |
| Radio Rijeka | Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (Kvarner) |
| Radio Pula | Istria County |
| Radio Osijek | Osijek-Baranja County (Slavonia) |
| Radio Split | Split-Dalmatia County |
| Radio Zadar | Zadar County (northern Dalmatia) |
| Radio Dubrovnik | Dubrovnik-Neretva County (southern Dalmatia) |
| Radio Knin | Knin area (Dalmatian hinterland) |
International and Specialized Services
The international radio service of Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), known as the Voice of Croatia (Glas Hrvatske), provides programming targeted at the Croatian diaspora and foreign audiences. Launched in its current 24-hour format on May 15, 2003, it broadcasts via satellite, shortwave, medium wave in Europe, and internet streaming, enabling global access.[72] Content includes news, cultural features, and information on political, economic, scientific, sporting, and social events in Croatia, with broadcasts in Croatian for expatriates alongside English, German, and Spanish for broader international reach.[73][72] The service emphasizes coverage of Croatian communities abroad, fostering connections through dedicated segments on diaspora life and achievements.[73] Specialized radio services encompass targeted programming for national minorities, as mandated by Croatia's Constitutional Act on National Minorities and the HRT Act. These include dedicated information and cultural programs in minority languages such as Italian, Hungarian, Serbian, and others, produced by Croatian Radio to support linguistic and cultural preservation in regions with significant minority populations.[74] Such broadcasts air within national and regional schedules, prioritizing factual reporting and community-relevant content over assimilationist narratives.[74]Technical Infrastructure and Presentation
Branding and Visual Identity Evolution
The visual identity of Croatian Radiotelevizija (HRT) originated with its predecessor, Radiotelevizija Zagreb (RTZ), established as a regional broadcaster within the Yugoslav Radio Television framework. The initial RTZ logo, introduced in 1956 and used until 1990, featured a stylized design emblematic of the era's socialist graphic style, created by Slovenian designer Jože Brumen.[75][76] This logo reflected RTZ's status as one of eight regional stations contributing to the federal Jugoslavenska Radio Televizija (JRT) network, with no distinct national Croatian branding during the Yugoslav period.[75] Following Croatia's declaration of independence, the Croatian Parliament enacted legislation on June 29, 1990, renaming RTZ to Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (HRT) to assert national sovereignty in broadcasting.[1] This coincided with the debut of a new HRT logo in 1990, replacing the RTZ emblem with a simpler typographic design incorporating "HRT" lettering, often in a sans-serif font with red geometric elements on the "T" to evoke Croatian national colors and modernity.[75] A variant planned as "HRTV" was ultimately unused.[75] The rebranding marked a shift from regional Yugoslav affiliation to independent Croatian public service identity, aligning visual elements with post-communist state symbols amid the Croatian War of Independence.[1] In 1994, HRT introduced an updated logo designed by Boris Ljubičić, utilizing Futura Std typography for a cleaner, more contemporary appearance, initially tied to its satellite channel launch but adopted more broadly.[75] This version emphasized horizontal red and white stripes, symbolizing the Croatian checkerboard coat of arms, and served as a secondary mark by the late 1990s.[75] A minor refinement in late 1999 refined the stripes and proportions, establishing the core design still in use today, available in variants with black or white backgrounds for versatility across print, broadcast, and digital media.[75] No major overhauls have occurred since, reflecting institutional stability, though channel-specific idents (e.g., for HRT1) have evolved periodically to incorporate the logo with dynamic animations.[77] The enduring design prioritizes recognizability and national symbolism over frequent stylistic shifts, consistent with public broadcasters' emphasis on continuity.[75]| Period | Key Features | Designer |
|---|---|---|
| 1956–1990 (RTZ) | Stylized emblem, socialist-era graphics | Jože Brumen[75] |
| 1990–1994 | "HRT" sans-serif with red blocks on "T" | N/A |
| 1994–1999 | Futura Std, red/white stripes, satellite focus | Boris Ljubičić[75] |
| 1999–present | Refined stripes variant for multi-platform use | Boris Ljubičić[75] |