RTV Studio B

RTV Studio B, commonly known simply as Studio B, is a radio and television broadcaster based in Belgrade, Serbia. It began as a radio station in 1970, established by journalists associated with the Borba media group, including Marko Janković. Its creation was significant in the context of Yugoslav and Serbian broadcasting because it operated outside the national electronic-media system and developed a strongly local identity centered on Belgrade. The broadcaster expanded its role during the 1970s. In 1972, Studio B became a corporation owned by the Municipal Council of Belgrade, linking it institutionally to the city while retaining a distinct broadcasting profile. The station launched its best-known program, “Good Morning, Belgrade” (Beograde dobro jutro), in 1975. The program helped define Studio B’s public image by combining local news, city information, commentary, and a direct relationship with Belgrade listeners and viewers. Duško Radović served as editor from 1975 and became one of the important editorial figures associated with the station’s early identity. Studio B subsequently developed from a radio broadcaster into a radio-and-television operation. It is described as the first broadcast station outside Serbia’s national electronic-media system and as the country’s first television station to use stereo sound broadcasting. Its terrestrial signal historically reached a radius of approximately 100 kilometers around Belgrade, an area described as containing roughly three million potential viewers. This coverage made the broadcaster more than a neighborhood station while preserving its emphasis on the capital and its surrounding region. The organization’s ownership and governance changed repeatedly during the 1990s and 2000s. Studio B became independent in April 1991, but that status was reversed by a corporate-court decision on 15 February 1996. On that date, director Milorad Roganović was removed, and Studio B operated thereafter as a government-owned company. Further management changes in October 1997, including the removal of director Zoran Ostojić and editor-in-chief Lila Radonjić, prompted a public demonstration. The broadcaster was taken over again in May 2000, reflecting the continuing political and institutional sensitivity of a prominent Belgrade news outlet. Studio B also made changes to its written broadcast identity. On 3 December 2012, its news program and certain other programs moved away from the Latin script in favor of Cyrillic. In a later privatization step, the station was sold on 19 August 2015 to the Serbian media company Maxim Media for 530,000 euros. The transaction placed Studio B in private media ownership after a long period associated with municipal and state control. The brand’s core offer consists of radio and television broadcasting rather than consumer products. Its principal value proposition is local relevance: news, current affairs, city-oriented information, interviews, and other programming intended for audiences in Belgrade and the surrounding area. The official website remains the primary digital point of reference for the broadcaster. Detailed current ownership, management, audience figures, programming schedules, and financial performance are not established by the supplied reference material.

RTV Studio B was founded in 1970 as a radio station by journalists from the Borba group, among them Marko Janković. Its establishment gave Belgrade a broadcaster that stood outside the national electronic-media system and that could build its editorial identity around the city and its residents. The station’s early role was therefore both journalistic and institutional: it served as a local source of information while representing a departure from the prevailing centralized broadcasting model. In 1972, Studio B became a corporation owned by the Municipal Council of Belgrade. This arrangement provided a formal municipal foundation as the station expanded its programming. From 1975, Duško Radović was its editor. That same year, the broadcaster introduced “Good Morning, Belgrade,” a program that became closely associated with Studio B and its city-focused style. The program’s importance came from its combination of news, commentary, practical information, and a direct local voice. Studio B later expanded into television. The broadcaster is identified as the first station outside Serbia’s national electronic-media system and the first Serbian television broadcaster to use stereo sound. Its transmission area extended approximately 100 kilometers from Belgrade, reaching a potential audience of about three million people. This regional reach allowed it to operate as a major urban broadcaster rather than only a small municipal service. The 1990s brought substantial changes in ownership and control. Studio B became independent in April 1991. That independence was overturned by a corporate-court decision on 15 February 1996, which also removed the last serving director of NTV Studio B, Milorad Roganović. From that point, the organization functioned as a government-owned company. In October 1997, director Zoran Ostojić and editor-in-chief Lila Radonjić were removed from their positions. The changes led to a demonstration, illustrating the political sensitivity surrounding management and editorial control at the station. Studio B was taken over again in May 2000. A later programming-policy change occurred on 3 December 2012, when the station’s news program and some other programs stopped using the Latin script and adopted Cyrillic. The decision affected the broadcaster’s on-air written identity and represented a visible editorial and cultural choice. On 19 August 2015, Studio B was sold to Maxim Media, a Serbian media company, for 530,000 euros. The sale marked a transition from the station’s long association with municipal and government ownership toward private media ownership. Studio B continues to be presented as a Belgrade radio and television broadcaster, with its official website serving as its current online presence. The supplied reference material does not establish a complete current management roster, detailed present-day ownership structure beyond the reported purchaser, audience data, or a full contemporary program schedule.

• 2015

  Privatization sale to Maxim Media

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Maxim Media acquired Studio B on 19 August 2015 for 530,000 euros.

• 2012

  Selected programming adopts Cyrillic

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  The news program and some other programs changed from Latin to Cyrillic script on 3 December 2012.

• 2000

  Further takeover

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Studio B was taken over again in May 2000.

• 1997

  Management changes trigger protest

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  The removal of director Zoran Ostojić and editor-in-chief Lila Radonjić was opposed by a demonstration.

• 1996

  Independence reversed

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  A corporate-court decision on 15 February 1996 returned Studio B to government ownership and removed director Milorad Roganović.

• 1991

  Studio B becomes independent

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster became independent in April 1991.

• 1975

  Good Morning, Belgrade introduced

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Studio B launched its notable local program Good Morning, Belgrade, with Duško Radović serving as editor from the same year.

• 1972

  Municipal corporation established

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Studio B became a corporation owned by the Municipal Council of Belgrade.

• 1970

  Radio station launched

  [1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Journalists from the Borba group, including Marko Janković, launched Studio B as a radio station in Belgrade.

A locally focused Belgrade broadcaster with a pioneering place in Serbian radio and television, combining city news and public-affairs content with broader regional reach.

• Radio broadcasting · 1970

  Studio B radio

  The original Studio B service began in 1970 as a Belgrade radio station. Its identity centers on local news, city information, commentary, interviews, and other programming aimed at listeners in Belgrade and the surrounding region.

• Television broadcasting

  Studio B television

  Studio B expanded from radio into television and became known for local news and public-affairs programming. It is described as Serbia’s first television broadcaster to use stereo sound and historically reached audiences within roughly 100 kilometers of Belgrade.

• Morning news and city-information program · 1975

  Good Morning, Belgrade

  Introduced in 1975, Good Morning, Belgrade is one of Studio B’s best-known programs. Its format connects news and commentary with practical information and a strong focus on the life of the Serbian capital.

• 2015

  Sale to Maxim MediaM&A

  Background

  After a long history involving municipal and government ownership, Studio B entered a private-media transaction.

  Action taken

  Maxim Media acquired Studio B on 19 August 2015.

  Aftermath

  The sale placed the broadcaster under private media ownership. The reported transaction value was 530,000 euros.

  Acquisition price. 530,000 euros (19 August 2015)

  Source

• 2012

  Change in broadcast scriptStrategy

  Background

  Studio B reviewed the written-language presentation of its news and other programming.

  Action taken

  On 3 December 2012, the news program and some other programs changed from Latin script to Cyrillic.

  Aftermath

  The change altered the station’s visible editorial and cultural presentation, but the supplied sources do not provide audience or commercial effects.

  Source

• 1996

  Return to government ownershipOther

  Background

  A corporate-court ruling dated 15 February 1996 addressed Studio B’s institutional status and the position of its director.

  Action taken

  The court reversed the broadcaster’s independence and removed Milorad Roganović as director.

  Aftermath

  Studio B operated as a government-owned company thereafter, according to the reference account.

  Source

• 1991

  Move to independenceStrategy

  Background

  After operating within municipal and public institutional structures, Studio B became independent in April 1991.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster adopted an independent organizational status.

  Aftermath

  The independent status was later reversed by a corporate-court decision in February 1996.

  Source

• 2015

  Studio B sold to Maxim Media[1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Studio B was sold to Serbian media company Maxim Media on 19 August 2015 for 530,000 euros.

• 2012

  Studio B changes selected programming to Cyrillic[1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  On 3 December 2012, Studio B’s news program and some other programs adopted Cyrillic instead of the Latin script.

• 1997

  Management removals prompt demonstration[1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  The removal of director Zoran Ostojić and editor-in-chief Lila Radonjić in October 1997 was opposed by a public demonstration.

• 1996

  Corporate-court decision returns Studio B to government ownership[1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Regulation · Other

  A corporate-court decision dated 15 February 1996 reversed the broadcaster’s independent status and removed director Milorad Roganović.

• 1991

  Studio B becomes independent[1]RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Studio B became independent in April 1991, changing its institutional relationship with the city and public ownership structures.

1. 1RTV Studio Ben.wikipedia.org
2. 2RTV Studio B official websitestudiob.rs