FAC Report on Foreign Policy and Human
Rights: BBC World Service Response
Thank you for your letter of 3 February; I do
apologise for the confusion, and hope that the following information
will be useful.
The BBC World Service has as a priority the
need to broadcast to people in the FYU for human rights purposes.
Since the media law referred to above came into force, the World
Service has been seeking means of better quality for its Serbian
and Albanian output; however, discussions so far have demonstrated
either no political will on the part of the authorities, or no
spare broadcasting capacity. The World Service recently announced
its three year plan, with the need for investment in FM as a key
part of its strategy.
1. SERBIAN
Transmissions in Serbian have increased by 15
minutes daily, Monday to Friday, making a total of 11 hours 45
minutes weekly.
By the end of September 1998, the World Service
had 33 rebroadcasters, mostly in Serbia, with a few in Montenegro
and Bosnia. The Serbian authorities' ban meant the loss of 27
of these, all in Serbia itself. We now have five rebroadcasters
in Montenegro and five in Bosnia; some of which put out a signal
that can be received some way into Serbia. In addition, the Montenegrin
authorities have agreed to make available to our Serbian rebroadcasting
partners, the ANEM network, an FM transmitter with the independent
B92 station at its heart. Although this is situated in Montenegrin
territory, it is on the border and at a high elevation, and would
therefore have a signal strong enough to cover most of Kosovo
and part of Serbia. It is hoped that the transmitter will become
operational in the Spring.
2. ALBANIAN
In January 1999, WS broadcasts in Albanian increased
for the second time in a year by 15 minutes a day, Monday to Friday.
The BBC has its own FMs in Tirana and Skopje;
in addition, we have seven rebroadcasters in Albania and five
in Macedonia—as with Serbian, the signals reach some way
into Kosovo.
3. SATELLITE
STREAM
The World Service has moved its satellite transmissions
from a digital (coded) to an analogue (uncoded) transponder, which
means that people equipped with a standard domestic satellite
installation can receive broadcasts in high quality. The satellite
stream also carries ANEM/B92 programming, which is therefore also
available.
The World Service is in constant communication
with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about ways of improving
service to the region, and any funding matters would be discussed
on a case-by-case basis.
Please do let me know if you would like any
further information.
Jessica Macfarlane
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