Bosnian State Broadcaster’s Collapse Threatens Regional Stability, Media Groups Warn

European media organizations are sounding the alarm over the imminent collapse of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s state broadcaster BHRT, warning that its demise would create a dangerous information vacuum in an already fragile democracy.

In an urgent appeal to the European Commission, a coalition of prominent media groups and public broadcasters from across Europe highlighted the dire financial situation facing BHRT, which has been systematically starved of funding for years. The broadcaster has been unable to pay staff salaries or cover basic operational costs, pushing it to the brink of shutdown.

At the heart of the crisis is a financial stranglehold that has persisted since 2017. The broadcaster from Republika Srpska (RTRS) has withheld over €46 million in legally mandated RTV-fee revenues that should have flowed to BHRT. This deliberate obstruction has crippled the national broadcaster’s ability to function, leaving employees without regular pay and the organization unable to meet pension obligations.

“This is not simply about the fate of one media organization,” said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which spearheaded the joint letter. “BHRT represents the only truly independent voice operating at the state level in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Its collapse would leave a dangerous void that would likely be filled by entities advancing partisan or foreign interests.”

The crisis unfolds against the backdrop of Bosnia’s complex political landscape, where media often reflects the country’s ethnic and political divisions. As one of the few institutions that broadcasts to all citizens regardless of ethnicity or entity, BHRT plays a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion in the post-conflict society.

Media experts point out that the broadcaster’s struggles are not merely financial but reflect deeper political tensions. The withholding of funds by RTRS, which serves the predominantly