1999

UNMIK/OSCE invites the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to set up and manage an independent public broadcaster in Kosovo under an MOU with the OSCE. In September 1999 RTK begins transmitting emergency 2-hours a day television service on analogue satellite. October 1999 OSCE transfers the resurrected public radio station ‘Radio Pristina’ to RTK. It is re-launched as ‘Radio Kosova’.


2000

The UN radio station ‘Radio Blue Sky’ becomes part of RTK. ‘Blue Sky’ is a multi-ethnic station targeting the younger audience. October 2000 technical facilities in television and radio are extensively updated, thanks to a substantial donation from the Government of Japan. In the November 2000 RTK television begins programmed expansion and increases to four hours daily: A weekly news magazine in Serbian is launched, to complement the daily Serbian news. News in Turkish and a weekly Turkish news magazine started.Radio and television begin broadcasting on the new Kosovo Terrestrial Transmission Network.
 

2001

UNMIK Broadcasting Regulation 2001/13 formally establishes RTK as an independent public service broadcaster with a non-political Board of Directors. The two radio stations begin live audio streaming on their websites to reach a world-wide audience. In July 2001 RTK television increases output to seven hours daily. New programmers include a weekly farming programme, a weekly business magazine and a weekly information programme for the Diaspora. Daily news in Bosnian is introduced. Television transfers from analogue to digital satellite. In September 2001 the Board of Directors is constituted and elects Adem Demaci as Chairman. December 2001 the EBU’s mandate to manage RTK ends. Agim Zatriqi is appointed the first locally-appointed Director General. RTK receives one-year bridging funding from the Kosovo Consolidated Budget, pending the introduction of a public license fee in 2003.
 

2002

Television increases to fifteen hours daily on terrestrial and satellite. 65% of programming is locally-produced and 35% acquired from foreign broadcasters or production houses.

In the January of this month RTK opens its correspondent office in Tirana. In the April starts Morning programme. In the June RTK launches weekly news magazine in Bosnian language ”Most”. In July is launched RTK website rtklive.com. The first postwar Kosovo serial “Modern family started on October. Meanwhile this year for the firs time RTK gives two awards, “Drita Germizaj” award for the best news moderator, and “Rudolf Sopi” award for the best cameramen.

2003

In the beginning of the year was signed Agreement for Cooperation between RTK and EBU. February, respectively march RTK launched campaign for the license fee “Res Publica”. The same month started from work Educative Program. On may RTK launched news bulletin “Info”. The end of the may Center for humanistic studies “Gani Bobi”, carried a survey of audience. Second this survey RTK is most watched television in Kosova. June, SRSG Michael Steiner, signed UNMIK Administrative Directive on the implementation of license fee about RTK. Another important story for RTK this month, creation of “Big Band”. Auditors report for the closing year 2002 was accomplished by corporate “Deloitte & Touche” on 27 June. September RTK started with another minority language, weekly news magazine in Roma “Yekhipe”. On 15 November RTK opens correspondent office in Tetova. On December 22 RTK will launch 24 hours programme schedule.