RTV Palma
RTV Palma was a privately owned Serbian television station based in Belgrade.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
RTV Palma, also known as TV Palma, was a privately owned Serbian television station based in Belgrade. It was operated by Palma Ltd, a company established in October 1991 by Belgrade lawyer Miodrag “Miki” Vujović. The station developed from Vujović’s earlier MV Channel Real Times, which began broadcasting in January 1992 with business news and rebroadcast satellite programming. TV Palma formally launched on 18 March 1993 as Belgrade’s sixth television station. The channel entered the market with an inexpensive, highly commercial schedule. Its early programming relied heavily on turbo-folk music videos, imported satellite content, films, telenovelas and foreign television series. It was also among the first Serbian stations to air hardcore pornography, initially in a late-night slot. The adult programming provoked public criticism and was moved to a later hour before eventually being discontinued. During the 1990s, the station broadcast a broad range of imported American series, including Dallas, Dynasty, Charlie’s Angels, M*A*S*H and Cagney & Lacey, as well as Latin American soap operas. RTV Palma’s ownership, premises and programming relationships generated persistent political speculation. Its predecessor had broadcast from premises associated with the newspaper Borba, while TV Palma’s early headquarters were located in offices rented from the Socialist Party of Serbia near Tašmajdan. Vujović was associated with the party, although he denied that the station was an SPS mouthpiece. In 1998, the station also subleased premises in Zemun from the Serbian Radical Party, whose representatives were part of the local government there. The arrangement and the station’s political programming contributed to perceptions that Palma was aligned with the ruling or nationalist political establishment of the period. By the end of the 1990s, the channel had changed direction. It added political, cultural, religious and arts programming, including the Serbian Radical Party-related programme Radikalski talasi, hosted and edited by figures connected with the party. Other programmes included interview and panel formats such as Dijalog and Obračun pod Palmom, along with cultural, religious, travel, fashion, alternative medicine and local-news shows. The station attracted attention again during the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević on 5 October 2000, when it temporarily stopped transmitting with a message saying it could not continue broadcasting while the city was in flames. It later aired Milošević’s first and only television interview after his overthrow, a decision criticized by politicians from the Democratic Opposition of Serbia. After the political transition, Palma gradually reduced its political output. By late 2001, its political programmes had been cancelled and the schedule was redirected toward more commercial entertainment. The change was described by presenter Olivera Miletović as a condition associated with the station’s attempt to obtain satellite distribution. The station subsequently appeared intermittently through satellite, local transmitters and cable networks, but its regulatory position remained unsettled. RTV Palma was involved in repeated disputes over frequencies, licences and broadcasting fees. It unsuccessfully challenged BK Telecom over the Belgrade channel 12 frequency in the mid-1990s. In 2001, Federal Telecommunications Minister Boris Tadić named Palma, TV Pink and BK Telecom as broadcasters alleged to have substantial unpaid fees and close political relationships with the SPS. In 2006, the Republic Broadcasting Agency denied Palma a terrestrial Belgrade licence. Political supporters of the decision cited allegations concerning hate speech and anti-democratic propaganda. The regulator took coercive action against terrestrial broadcasting in December 2006. Although Palma later obtained temporary legal relief and continued broadcasting at points, the frequency dispute was not resolved in its favour. A cable licence was ultimately revoked on 8 January 2013 because of accumulated debt. RTV Palma thereafter ceased functioning as a regular television channel. Its logo and visual identity have nevertheless remained recognizable in Serbian popular culture, including a 2015 music video by Mimi Mercedez that referenced the station’s 1990s turbo-folk image.
History
Palma Ltd was founded in October 1991 by Belgrade lawyer Miodrag Vujović. Before TV Palma, Vujović operated MV Channel Real Times, which began broadcasting on 9 January 1992 from the 34th channel. That service emphasized business news and satellite programmes such as MTV, Eurosport and The Children’s Channel, and was associated with sponsorship from Jugoskandik. It initially operated from premises connected with Borba, a newspaper linked to the Socialist Party of Serbia. TV Palma began broadcasting on 18 March 1993 from the 39th channel, generally transmitting from 17:00 until 02:00. By the end of that year it had moved to the 34th channel, leaving MV Channel Real Times with only a limited overnight presence before that service disappeared. The new station’s early schedule was built around turbo-folk videos, imported material, films and adult programming. It later expanded into foreign series and telenovelas, including a substantial selection of American programmes and Latin American serials. The station’s institutional and political connections were frequently debated. Its headquarters were initially located in offices rented from the SPS near Tašmajdan, and Vujović was himself a party member. He denied that the station was politically controlled by the SPS. In 1995 Palma contested BK Telecom’s use of the 12th channel, but the government awarded that channel to BK Telecom in October. In February 1997, Vujović and RTS general director Dragoljub Milanović signed an agreement concerning the development and production of a unified programme. Such arrangements were used by broadcasters during the period as a way to operate within the country’s restrictive frequency-allocation system. A further controversy arose in Zemun after the Serbian Radical Party leased the renovated Magistrate building in December 1998 and subleased part of it to TV Palma. Because the party participated in the local government, the arrangement attracted criticism, including claims that the sublease was unlawful. Palma’s programming increasingly reflected the political environment. By late 1998 it was airing political and arts programmes, including Radikalski talasi, a Serbian Radical Party propaganda programme edited by Aleksandar Vučić and hosted by Ksenija Vučić. The schedule also included interview and panel shows, cultural and religious programmes, local news, nature, travel, fashion and entertainment formats. On 5 October 2000, during the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević, Palma stopped broadcasting at approximately 19:05 and displayed a message explaining that it could not continue while the city was in flames. After the political transition, the station resumed programming and its first guest was opposition politician Dragoljub Mićunović. On 12 December it broadcast Milošević’s first and only post-overthrow television interview, a decision condemned by several Democratic Opposition of Serbia members. In 2001, Federal Telecommunications Minister Boris Tadić stated that TV Palma, TV Pink and BK Telecom collectively owed approximately 2.1 million Deutsche Mark in fees and described the broadcasters as particularly close to the SPS. During the same period Palma began withdrawing from political content. By late 2001 it had cancelled its political shows and shifted toward commercial entertainment. Presenter Olivera Miletović said that the change was connected to a condition for satellite broadcasting. The station’s regulatory troubles continued. Palma applied for Belgrade broadcasting rights in 2006, but the Republic Broadcasting Agency denied the application. Supporters of the decision, including the Democratic Party, cited allegations of hate speech and anti-democratic propaganda. The regulator prohibited terrestrial broadcasts in December 2006. Palma nevertheless continued to appear intermittently through satellite and local transmissions. In July 2007 it transmitted illegally from its former Zemun transmitter on channel 36, interfering with TV Enter; authorities stopped the transmission several days later. Palma Ltd challenged the regulator in court in 2009, arguing that the RBA council lacked authority to prohibit a station’s broadcasting. On 4 June 2009 the Supreme Court ruled in Palma’s favour and required reconsideration. The RBA nevertheless reaffirmed its earlier position in January 2010. Palma broadcast again from December 2009 and announced a possible relaunch under the slogan “Serbian, yet world-class.” From September 2011 it was carried by cable operators in parts of Belgrade. Its cable licence was revoked on 8 January 2013 because of accumulated debt. The station subsequently ceased regular operations, although its imagery continued to appear in Serbian popular culture.
- 2013
Cable licence revoked
[1]The licence was withdrawn on 8 January because of accumulated debt.
- 2011
Cable distribution begins
[1]Palma began cable transmission in parts of Belgrade through Kopernikus and Avcom.
- 2009
Supreme Court ruling
[1]The Supreme Court ruled for Palma Ltd in a procedural challenge to the regulator’s authority.
- 2006
Belgrade terrestrial licence denied
[1]The Republic Broadcasting Agency refused Palma a terrestrial frequency for Belgrade.
- 2000
Broadcasting interruption during Milošević overthrow
[1]The station briefly suspended its signal during the 5 October political upheaval.
- 2000
Milošević post-overthrow interview
[1]Palma aired Slobodan Milošević’s only television interview after his removal from power.
- 1997
Unified-programme agreement with RTS
[1]Palma Ltd and RTS signed an agreement covering the conception and realization of a unified programme.
- 1995
Frequency dispute with BK Telecom
[1]Palma challenged BK Telecom over channel 12, but the government awarded the frequency to BK Telecom.
- 1993
TV Palma launches
[1]TV Palma launched on 18 March as Belgrade’s sixth television station.
- 1992
MV Channel Real Times begins broadcasting
[1]Vujović’s predecessor channel began carrying business news and satellite programming.
Products and positioning
A commercially oriented Belgrade television station that combined mass-market entertainment and imported programming with political, cultural and religious formats. Its public identity was strongly associated with 1990s turbo-folk television and with controversies surrounding political alignment and broadcasting regulation.
Broadcast station · 1993
Television broadcasting
RTV Palma’s core offering was a scheduled television service for Belgrade and, at different times, wider Serbian audiences. Distribution shifted among terrestrial frequencies, satellite transmission, local transmitters and cable platforms. The channel’s schedule changed substantially over time, moving from music videos and imported entertainment toward political, cultural, religious and local-interest programming, before returning to a more commercial orientation.
Television programming · 1998
Political and current-affairs programmes
The station carried interview, monologue and panel formats including Dijalog, Obračun pod Palmom, Pitanja i odgovori, H2O and Kompromis. Radikalski talasi was associated with the Serbian Radical Party and became part of debates about the station’s editorial alignment. These programmes were cancelled during the station’s shift toward commercial content in late 2001.
Television programming · 1994
Imported entertainment
Imported content was central to Palma’s schedule. The station showed American series, films, satellite programmes and Latin American telenovelas such as Čipke, I bogati plaču, Zabranjena ljubav and Plima ljubavi. This content helped the channel compete in a crowded and rapidly commercializing Serbian television market.
Television programming · 1998
Cultural, religious and lifestyle programmes
Alongside political shows, Palma aired cultural and religious formats such as Subotom na Palmi, Približavanje Hilandaru and S blagoslovom u Treći Milenijum. Its wider schedule included travel, nature, fashion, motorsport, alternative medicine and Belgrade-focused news, demonstrating an effort to broaden the channel beyond its early music and adult-entertainment identity.
Controversies
2007
Illegal transmission from Zemun
TV Palma resumed transmission from its old Zemun transmitter on channel 36 without authorization, causing interference with TV Enter. Authorities stopped the transmission on 18 July.
2001
Unpaid broadcasting fees allegations
Federal Telecommunications Minister Boris Tadić alleged that Palma, TV Pink and BK Telecom collectively owed approximately 2.1 million Deutsche Mark in fees and described them as closely connected to the SPS.
2000
Broadcast of Milošević interview
The station’s broadcast of Slobodan Milošević’s first post-overthrow television interview was condemned by opposition politicians and became one of its most politically controversial editorial decisions.
1998
Controversy over Serbian Radical Party premises
TV Palma subleased premises in Zemun from the Serbian Radical Party while the party participated in local government. The arrangement was criticized because the sublease was reportedly unlawful and reinforced perceptions of political dependence.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015“Suši” music-video reference
Serbia
Mimi Mercedez’s music video for “Suši” prominently referenced RTV Palma’s logo and visual style, using distortion and turbo-folk imagery to evoke Serbian 1990s popular culture.
Outcome. The reference helped preserve the station’s visual identity as a recognizable cultural symbol after its broadcasting operations ended.
Brand decisions
2013
End of cable distributionStrategyBackground
The channel had accumulated substantial debt after relying on intermittent satellite, local and cable distribution.
Action taken
The cable licence was revoked on 8 January 2013.
Aftermath
Regular cable carriage ended and RTV Palma ceased functioning as an active television station.
2009
Challenge to broadcasting prohibitionOtherBackground
Palma Ltd disputed the legal authority of the Republic Broadcasting Agency’s council to prohibit the station’s broadcasts.
Action taken
The company brought the matter before the courts; the Supreme Court ruled in its favour on 4 June 2009 and required the regulator to reconsider.
Aftermath
The regulator reaffirmed its earlier decision in January 2010, while Palma continued intermittent broadcasting.
2001
End political programming and pursue commercial positioningStrategyBackground
Following the political transition and criticism of the station’s editorial relationships, Palma faced pressure to change its programming model while seeking satellite distribution.
Action taken
The station cancelled its political shows and redirected its schedule toward commercial entertainment.
Aftermath
The shift reduced the station’s overt political profile but did not resolve its distribution and regulatory difficulties.
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