The public broadcaster of Bosnia & Herzegovina has restricted its programming output to just news, as the broadcaster faces potential financial collapse.
On Thursday, BHRT, the public broadcaster of Bosnia & Herzegovina, stopped airing all programming other than news coverage as financial issues grow. The broadcaster is in “serious financial and operational crisis” according to BHRT, and has two days left to settle debt to the European Broadcasting Union before enforcement procedure can be used against BHRT to recover the funds. In addition, BHRT’s financial accounts could also be further restricted, limiting its ability to function further.
Currently, BHRT has debts totalling:
- Taxes and contributions – 56 million KM / 28.63 million Euro
- VAT – 10 million KM / 5.11 million Euro
- Debt to the European Broadcasting Union – 22 million KM / 11.25 million Euro
- Debt to Elektroprivreda – 2 million KM / 1.02 million Euro
- Debt for Gas – 300,000 KM / 153,000 Euro
- Debt for other suppliers – 2 million KM / 1.02 million Euro
- Total debt – 100 million KM / 51.13 million Euro
BHRT’s financial difficulties are as a result of two factors. The first being Radio Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS) failing to split the share of the RTV fee in Bosnia & Herzegovina to BHRT for nearly a decade. As of December 31, 2025, RTRS owed BHRT 104,137,380 KM (53,246,806 Euro). The second factor is the RTV fee which funds public broadcasting in Bosnia & Herzegovina, has not been adjusted for inflation since 2013, meaning in real terms, BHRT has been losing funding for over a decade.
The broadcaster has appealed to the Parliament of Bosnia & Herzegovina to intervene to ensure that the country does not lose its public service broadcaster. They have proposed that Parliament provide 100 million KM in credit to BHRT, as well as the urgent implementation of changes to the law regulating the distribution and collection of the RTV fee.
BHRT is currently airing a message to viewers on BHT reading:
We warn of the consequences of the lack of a systemic solution and the possible permanent shutdown of your public service.
Without an urgent decision from the competent institutions, BHRT faces the blocking of its accounts and the cessation of its basic function – public service in the interest of citizens.
As well as:
This is not a technical failure.
This is a warning of the possible shutdown of BHRT.
Without a systemic solution to funding, Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina may cease operations.
Should this debt be cleared, it could allow BHRT to repay the debt it owes to the EBU and return to Eurovision. BHRT has been sanctioned by the EBU since December 2016 due to these unpaid debts and has been unable to return to Eurovision ever since.
Bosnia & Herzegovina has a rich history in the Eurovision Song Contest and wider competitions. It made its debut in 1993, represented by Fazla with “Sva bol svijeta”, who had fled Sarajevo under the cover of night during the Bosnian War to perform at the Song Contest in Millstreet. The band received a standing ovation from the audience. They would go on to compete in the contest nineteen times, including six top ten finishes.
Outside of the Eurovision Song Contest, Bosnia & Herzegovina would compete once in Eurovision Young Musicians in 2012, and attempt to compete in Junior Eurovision twice. BHRT also aired the Eurovision Dance Contest and last aired a Eurovision show in 2020 when Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light was held.
Bosnia and Herzegovina last participated in the 2016 contest, in which returning artist Deen represented the country with the song “Ljubav Je” along with Dalal, Ana Rucner and Jala. The group just missed out on qualification chances, ending in 11th place in the semi-final with 104 points.
Source: BHRT
Bosnia & Herzegovina debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest as an independent country in 1993. At the time the country was at war with Yugoslavia, with the singers having to leave Sarajevo under the cover of darkness to make it to Ireland. Bosnia & Herzegovina’s best result in the Eurovision Song Contest came in 2006, when Hari Mata Hari finished 3rd in the final with 229 points with “Lejla”. The country received eight sets of 12 points, more than any other country. Bosnia & Herzegovina last participated in 2016, when Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner & Jala finished 11th in their semi-final and failed to reach the final.