RTV Pink - Criticism

Criticism

RTV Pink has gained a large following of both admirers and critics. Some have criticized Pink over its programming content which is considered light and even kitschy. Pink's programming is similar to commercial stations in other European countries such as Germany, Italy and Spain, and even the United States. As a commercial station, Pink airs many different types of programming to attract viewers whereas the public broadcaster should be broadcasting more educational, historical and science-related programming. Some of Pink's programming is titillating (music variety shows) that generates considerable criticism from more intellectual and conservative circles.

RTV Pink has been criticized as sensationalist and vapid. According to the Open Society Institute, which monitors telecommunications independence within the European Union, as a result of private encroachment in the television industry, stations like Pink have "resorted increasingly to low-quality entertainment and sensationalist newscasts." The Open Society's criticism of Pink seems to lack a real understanding of the fundamental differences between commercial (private) and public television.

Pink has further critics. The Grand music shows have been characterized as "dumbing down" to the population, showing a primitive side of Serbia that glamorizes the troubled lives of performers and shows skimpily clothed singers/dancers that are watched by thousands of young children.

The latest criticisms came when Pink launched their reality program The Farm, which sometimes occupied up to ten hours of their schedule, thus resulting in the absence of previous successful shows, films and imported non-soap TV series (which were removed from unpopular late night airtime and transferred to cable only channel Pink Family). Pink still occasionally airs imported TV series, the latest one being Damages (TV-MA rated in the USA), at 8 am, before telenovela repeats.

Pink has often been criticised for unstable programming schedule. The airtimes are not standard, airing the same show at different times. Also, Pink is known for schedule changes which happen several times during the day, and the final decision brought at the last minute. The channel is also known for delaying its primetime schedule to past midnight for various reasons. Some of its shows air regularly after midnight.

A new term has been derived from all of this criticism - "Pink effect". The term is used when other TV networks in Serbia start sensationalizing and dumbing down their programmes. B92, although still of high opinion among the cultural population is said to be dumbing down with programmes such as Big Brother (a show that is also broadcast on Pink's sister network Pink BH).