Television in Bosnia and Herzegovina was first introduced in 1961. Out of 94 TV stations, 71 are commercial, 20 are public (regional, local or municipal ownership), while 3 public services are funded through subscription.

+ TV stations by type of funding in Bosnia and Herzegovina Data by CRA BiH (1 July 2019) Sum Television licence3 Public broadcasting (Regional, local or municipal ownership)20 Commercial broadcasting71

History First broadcasting in Bosnia and Herzegovina started in 1961 when Radio-Televizija Sarajevo began its programme although without its own TV studio at that time (it used Radio Sarajevo's premises for this purpose).

Televizija Sarajevo (TVSA) started broadcasting its own TV program on 17 March 1969. with first live TV-news program called "Večernji ekran“ (Evening Screen). At the beginning of 1975., the first phase of the construction of RTV Dom – TV headquarters building in Sarajevo was completed. Two years later, in 1977, the second television program (TVSA 2) was launched.

With the help of other members of the Yugoslav Radio Television system, Radio-Television Sarajevo successfully implemented all special broadcasting programs dedicated to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. The third television channel (TVSA 3) has started with broadcasting in 1989 from headquarters also known as the RTV Dom (nickname "Sivi dom") located in Sarajevo.

During the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Yugoslav Radio Television system dissolved when most republics became independent countries. The once-recognizable joint program created by the exchange of TV content in JRT network soon was suspended and interrupted, and separate national TV stations began to use propaganda in tv news and other programs. As a result, the once subnational broadcasting centers became public broadcasters of the newly independent states. In such conditions, the first commercial television stations in the Balkans appear.

At the beginning of the War in Bosnia, in 1992, RTV Sarajevo changed its name to Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RTV BiH). Headquarters of the RTV BiH were often exposed to war damages. During the siege of Sarajevo, RTV BiH was forced to broadcast only one radio (Radio BiH) and one television program (tv bih) via damaged transmitters at Hum TV Tower, with minimal technical conditions.

On 2 May 1992, Hum Tower was partly destroyed by the JNA and VRS. Militants illegally took over all property (TV transmitters and releys) from the former TVSA. Seven out of ten TV repeaters from former TVSA in the territory of BiH were controlled by the JNA and VRS.

From stolen equipment, a parallel new TV channel (Kanal S – SRT; now: RTRS) was established in May 1992 to broadcast propaganda or news builtens from Serbian RTV Beograd via its seat in Pale, near Sarajevo. The second TV transmitter above the Sarajevo, Bosnian capital, (Trebević Television transmitter) was directly controlled by SRT (Srpska radio televizija). With the outbreak of the Conflict between Croatia and Bosnian and Herzegovina, TV transmitters under the control of HVO started to rebroadcast news programs of HRT via its Erotel affiliate based in Mostar.

During the war (1992–1995), many independent local or regional stations (public and commercial) were launched across the country. Former network affiliates of the second radio channel (Radio Sarajevo 2) often were used as facilities for these new TV stations.

On 1 January 1993, RTV BiH was admitted as an active member of the European Broadcasting Union.

In the Alipašino Polje neighborhood of Sarajevo, on 28 June 1995, a modified air-bomb was thrown by JNA/VRS into the building of RTV BiH. One person was killed, and at least 30 injured.

Hum Tower also suffered major damage, which is partially repaired after the war by technicians from national public broadcaster, BHRT.

After the war, many local media continued to work. With the help of various international donors, equipment has been renewed through media support projects.

On 2 March 2001, Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded with mission to regulate the electronic communications and audiovisual sector in BiH. An important task was the management and supervision of the frequency spectrum.

After 17 July 2002, in Bosnia and Herzegovina there was no radio and TV stations that broadcast without official broadcasting licence issued by the CRA.

All local media in BiH, which could not meet the official criteria of the competition for broadcasting licences were closed in the period between 2000 and 2002. According to the recommendations, CRA BiH has established a public register of permits issued for all broadcasters with relevant data about all media outlets (radio stations, TV channels...) who have received permission to work.

+ Broadcasters in Bosnia and Herzegovina Year Radio Television 2008 126 39 2009 125 42 2010 123 40 2011 133 42 2012 134 45 2013 135 42 2014 131 48 2015 133 51 2016 130 51 2017 / / 2018 149 93* (CRA)

Analogue television Free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters National and near-national coverage Television licence funding Bosnia and Herzegovina has 3 public broadcasters financed from radio and television fees (RTV pretplata/pristojba). The amount of television fees in BiH is 7.5 BAM per month (collected along with Electric bill).

The national public broadcaster for Bosnia and Herzegovina is BHRT (Radio televizija Bosne i Hercegovine). With one television and one radio channel it covers more than 97% of the country. BHRT is the only Bosnian member of the European Broadcasting Union.

The entity broadcaster for Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is RTVFBiH (Radio televizija Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine). The program is broadcast on one radio and one television channel. The entity broadcaster for Republika Srpska is RTRS (Radio televizija Republike Srpske). The program is broadcast via one radio and two television channels (one channel is via cable systems).

There are plans to establish a public TV corporation that would operate, consolidate and improve quality of all Bosnian tax-funded public broadcasters.

+ List of television channels in Bosnia and Herzegovina funded by TV-tax (7.50 BAM per month)TV channel Type Launched Formerly called Owned by Language HDTV BHT1 General RTV Sarajevo (1961–1992) RTV BiH (tvbih) (1991–1995) BHT (1995–1998) PBS BiH (BHTV 1) (1998–2004) BHT 1 (since 2004) BHRT Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian Federalna TV General RTVFBiH Bosnian and Croatian RTRS.tv General Канал СТВ РС RTRS Serbian

Commercial funding Near-national commercial broadcasters are primarily focused on the entitiy markets, but some of them also broadcast a joint program (Mreža TV). They provide a common advertising space (on country, entity, or regional level) that is more attractive to major advertisers.

+ List of Commercial television channels in BiHTV channel Type Launched Formerly called Owned by Language HDTV OBN General Open Broadcast Network Ivan Ćaleta (100%) Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian Nova BH General Pink BH (2003–2018) United Group Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian Hayat General Neovisna televizija Hayat Hayat HD Hayat TV Bosnian BN Televizija General RTV BN Serbian ATV General Alternativna TV Serbian O Kanal General TV1-RTM Oslobođenje Bosnian Prva BH General NTV Jasmin (1998–2022) Unipol Group Bosnian Una TV General Una World Network Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian

Regional coverage Public funding Other public TV stations broadcast only locally at the municipal, local, and regional levels, such as 5 cantonal TV stations (e.g. TVSA, RTV TK, RTV USK, RTV ZE, and RTV BPK).

+ List of Public television channels in BiH funded by Cantons (via Assembly or grants)TV channel Type Launched Formerly called Owned by Language HDTV TVSA Regional Televizija Kantona Sarajevo Sarajevo Canton Bosnian RTV TK Regional Televizija Tuzlanskog kantona Tuzla Canton Bosnian RTV USK Regional Televizija Unsko-sanskog kantona Una-Sana Canton Bosnian RTV ZE Regional Televizija Zenica Zenica-Doboj Canton Bosnian RTV BPK Regional Televizija BPK Goražde Bosnian-Podrinje Canton Bosnian RTV HB General Radiotelevizija Herceg-Bosne RTV HB Croatian

Commercial funding Commercial terrestrial stations are mostly located in larger towns and settlements (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Bijeljina, Brčko, Bihać, Trebinje, Travnik, Zenica...).

+ List of regional commercial television channels in BiHTV channel Type Launched Formerly called Owned by Language HDTV Televizija K3 Regional Televizija K3 Serbian Televizija Hit Regional RTV Hit Brčko Serbian Herceg TV Regional RTV Herceg Serbian TV Slon Extra Regional Bosnian

Local, city or municipal coverage Local TV networks share local news (e.g. BH Veza in FBiH entity or PRIMA Mreža in RS entity).

Public funding + List of Public television channels in BiH funded by local government unit (via municipal assembly or grants)TV channel Type Launched Formerly called Owned by Language HDTV TV Vogošća Municipal Televizija Vogošća Vogošća Bosnian TV Cazin Municipal Televizija Cazin Cazin Bosnian TV Visoko Municipal Televizija Visoko Visoko Bosnian TV Živinice Municipal Televizija Živinice Živinice Bosnian TV Bugojno Municipal Televizija Bugojno Bugojno Bosnian TV Prijedor Municipal Televizija Prijedor Prijedor Serbian TV Rudo Municipal Televizija Rudo Rudo Serbian

Commercial funding + List of local commercial television channels in BiHTV channel Type Launched Formerly called Owned by Language HDTV TV Alfa General Televizija Alfa Dnevni avaz Bosnian MTV Igman Religious Bosnian TV Bel Kanal General ТВ Бел Канал Serbian TV Simić General ТВ Симић Serbian RTV Vikom General Serbian NTV 101 General NTV 101 Sanski Most Bosnian NTV Arena General Nezavisni TV – Studio "Arena" Serbian RTV Slobomir General Televizija Slobomir Serbian NTVIC Kakanj General Neovisna televizija IC Bosnian NTV Amna General Neovisna televizija Amna Bosnian RTV Maglaj General Bosnian

Cable and IPTV television There are 36 licensed cable TV operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina.