TV Marjan
Encyclopedia
TV Marjan is now defunct Croatian commercial TV station from Split
, which had the distinction of being the first private television station in former Yugoslavia.
The station, named after Marjan hill overlooking city of Split, began its existence in 1984 thanks to Gordan Franić-Futa, local television enthusiast. Equipped with satellite antenna he began to re-broadcast foreign television programmes, most notably Super Channel
and MTV
. The programme was occasionally interrupted with public service announcements in order to win favour of local authorities. The authorities in Zagreb were, however, less friendly and the station was often shut down by government inspectors. TV Marjan, however, began to make original programmes and air it during holidays.
The station finally started on air continuously February 20, 1990. As such, it took part in campaign for first Croatian parliamentary elections
and was the first Croatian broadcast media that aired interview with future President Franjo Tuđman.
When the war erupted in Croatia one year later, Yugoslav federal
air force knocked out all transmitters belonging to Croatian Radiotelevision
in Dalmatia
. TV Marjan with its satellite equipment was one of the stations that provided HRT programme to citizens of Split and neighbouring areas. Its reporters were also on the battlefields, recording some of the most dramatic images from the conflict.
As the war deescalated, TV Marjan began to develop its own programme, of which the most notable were children's shows.
In 1997 TV Marjan became part of Mreža
, first Croatian private television network. Due to poor management and association with controversial business tycoon Miroslav Kutle
, Mreža collapsed one year later, taking TV Marjan with it.
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, which had the distinction of being the first private television station in former Yugoslavia.
The station, named after Marjan hill overlooking city of Split, began its existence in 1984 thanks to Gordan Franić-Futa, local television enthusiast. Equipped with satellite antenna he began to re-broadcast foreign television programmes, most notably Super Channel
NBC Europe
NBC Europe was a satellite television channel based in the United Kingdom that broadcast across Europe...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The programme was occasionally interrupted with public service announcements in order to win favour of local authorities. The authorities in Zagreb were, however, less friendly and the station was often shut down by government inspectors. TV Marjan, however, began to make original programmes and air it during holidays.
The station finally started on air continuously February 20, 1990. As such, it took part in campaign for first Croatian parliamentary elections
Croatian parliamentary election, 1990
Parliamentary elections were held in Croatia on 22 April 1990, with a second round of voting on 6 May. The first free elections since multi-party politics were introduced, they resulted in a victory for the Croatian Democratic Union, which won 55 of the 80 seats...
and was the first Croatian broadcast media that aired interview with future President Franjo Tuđman.
When the war erupted in Croatia one year later, Yugoslav federal
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
air force knocked out all transmitters belonging to Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
in Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. TV Marjan with its satellite equipment was one of the stations that provided HRT programme to citizens of Split and neighbouring areas. Its reporters were also on the battlefields, recording some of the most dramatic images from the conflict.
As the war deescalated, TV Marjan began to develop its own programme, of which the most notable were children's shows.
In 1997 TV Marjan became part of Mreža
Mreža
Mreža was the first private Croatian television network. It was founded in 1997. From its Zagreb studios, it produced original programs that were later aired on various local and regional stations....
, first Croatian private television network. Due to poor management and association with controversial business tycoon Miroslav Kutle
Miroslav Kutle
Miroslav Kutle is a Herzegovinian Croat entrepreneur. He became notorious for his involvement in the Croatian privatization controversy and was since sentenced to jail time for embezzlement on two occasions.-Education:...
, Mreža collapsed one year later, taking TV Marjan with it.