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The OBN Update is a brief newsletter which aims to provide all those interested with a snapshot of developments in the Open Broadcast Network. The update is produced jointly by the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Sarajevo and the OBN Project Assistance Team (PAT).
- TV INFO, the OBN's central news and current affairs programme recently notched up its 150th edition. The flagship programme on OBN has from the very outset dedicated itself to providing an "objective mirror " of the current situation in BiH, serving the citizens of BiH, and building credibility throughout the country. With a clear editorial policy and drawing on personnel and contributions from the TVIN affiliate stations in Mostar, Zenica, and Tuzla, and from the growing affiliate Banja Luka, the bulletin has emerged as one of the most popular and trusted news programmes in BiH.
- The OBN's in-house production has shifted up a few gears in its original programming. "Return", a refugee programme, now in its sixth week, is being produced by the central studio in Sarajevo. The programme deals with the problem of Bosnian refugees, both those displaced in BiH as well as those who sought shelter in the Diaspora. The response to the show has been very positive, with letters continuing to flood the OBN offices from viewers expressing their support, suggesting themes and subjects for treatment and requesting that more room be devoted to dealing with this issue.
- "Telering" is a political debate program which, although only two editions old, has already generated considerable interest through attracting guests who found a forum unavailable elsewhere to discuss publicly the difficult issues facing BiH. The show is produced by TV Tuzla's Mato Djakovic who assembled as his guests for the first show both the President and Vice President of the BiH Federation. This resulted in the studio receiving over 350 calls from viewers with questions for the Federation's highest officials. The second Telering saw a timely appearance by the Principal Deputy High Representative, Michael Steiner just as the situation in and around the troubled city of Mostar was at the top of the national agenda. An even higher viewer response was registered.
- A different approach is adopted for "The Cage", a program left entirely in the hands of a select group of established authors outside the OBN/TVIN structures. Illustratively, the first programme dealt with the subject of suicide, which is on the increase within BiH. It is the ambition of the OBN programming staff to develop this show into an opportunity for co-productions with authors, producers and artists not normally associated with television (print editors, writers, novelists, artists etc.) who would use this platform to create, together with the OBN producers, programmes that deal with relevant contemporary themes and treat them in a new fashion. It is also the ambition of the network to enter the best of these in TV festivals and competitions around the world.
- Also from TV Tuzla comes "Atlantis", an entertainment show which focuses on the underground and alternative cultural happenings in BiH. This programme, developed and produced in its entirety by TV Tuzla, recently celebrated its hundredth edition and the positive reactions it has elicited so far should ensure it a bright future.
- Last but not least comes "Queen of Hearts", a show devoted to dealing with the question of women in BiH. As well as covering the position of women in the BiH of today, the show will also aim to present to the viewers the stories of successful Bosnian women from all walks of life.
- In addition to these programming advances, there has been progress in filling the gaps in the management structure with new quality personnel. On the programming side, Boro Kontic, currently head of the Sarajevo-based Open Society Media Centre and one of the most illustrious and respected radio and TV creative experts in BiH, has agreed to help OBN in shaping the programme schedule and oversee the creative aspects of production. On the management side, an operations director, Mike Challenger, with extensive experience in television and in businesses within and beyond Bosnia, has come on board to put in place the essential elements in the fields of internal management, marketing and administration. Both are valuable additions to the OBN structure and the results should be obvious soon.
- Representatives of existing, new and potential OBN donors met at OHR Brussels on 22 January ahead of the Governing Council on 25 February, when firm pledges for Phase Two will be made.
Donors were given extensive presentations, including slides and videos, highlighting the progress so far and setting out the case for continuing international support for the network. There was a detailed discussion of the proposed business plan prepared by the Project Assistance Team (PAT), with an additional briefing on the plans for Banja Luka.
Donors expressed broad support for the business plan with most of the discussion focusing on the long-term structures and prospects for the network. Donors agreed to an OHR proposal for a Steering Committee to be set up providing a crucial layer of management, responsibility and accountability for the project between the PAT and the Governing Council. The composition of the Committee has yet to be finalised but it was agreed that it will include OHR, OSCE, the European Commission, the US and the Soros Foundation, as well as one or two representatives of the other bilateral donors. All those present agreed on the need to move fast and for the Committee to be available to support the PAT in the weeks ahead at the tactical level. Decisions of strategic significance would continue to be referred to the full Governing Council. Although this was not a pledging session, donor representatives gave encouraging indications of the positive support they expected to be able to give towards achieving the $ 7.4 m for Phase Two of the project.
The OBN Project Assistance Team Tel. 387 71 460 536 Fax 387 71 460 534
Office of the High Representative Public Affairs Office Tel. 387 71 447 275 Fax 387 71 447 420
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