After just a few weeks, Montirani Proces has been cancelled
Croatian Radio Television (HRT) has decided to cancel the satirical show Montirani Proces (Show Trial). In a statement announced during the evening, and only one hour before the team was scheduled to begin shooting a new show, HRT informed the media and the public, but not the authors of the show themselves, that the show will no longer be broadcast. Instead, on Sunday the viewers will be able to enjoy a documentary on the Pope’s Swiss Guard, reports Jutarnji List and Index.hr on March 17, 2016.
“On its program meeting, HRT has decided that this Sunday, Montirani Proces will not be broadcast and that a few remaining shows which have been scheduled will also not be produced. The decision is based on the fact that in one part of the scenario a content is mentioned which is inappropriate for broadcast on HRT and is contrary to the mission, values and principles of HRT. We believe that the theme of a satirical news show has been used for inciting religious, national and other intolerance”, said the HRT in the statement, adding that the HRT believed that any public broadcaster in the world would consider such content as unsuitable and offensive.
“I am surprised with such a decision because our shows were great, and this week we were supposed to have the best show ever. Boris Miletić was supposed to explain to us why has Istra seceded from Croatia, we had an analytical feature about the always interesting topic of the educational reform from the Middle Ages, and a series of sketches with our favourite characters Tomislav, Kolinda and Tim”, says Vlado Lucić from the show, adding that no one from the HRT told them what they were doing wrong.
“On Monday, Ružica Renić Andrijanić, the acting editor of HTV1, said that she has a remark about our work, but despite our best efforts she did not reveal to us what was exactly what she meant”, says Lucić, who pointed out that the decision was not unexpected given the recent events on the HRT, after the new government named the new management.
Borna Sor, the anchor of Montirani Proces, said, “We have to see what happens next. HRT allegedly had a problem with a satirical feature about Jews, but I do not think that is the real reason.”
One of the people who reacted to the news was Ivan Vilibor Sinčić, an MP from Živi Zid. “The guys from the show invited me several times to come to their show. I always thought I would do it when there is more time. Now I see that HRT has cancelled their show. I regret that decision, because Croatia needs good, honest satire. Cancellation of the show which the audience liked and which showed the political circus better than all the news programs is an absurd decision. The HRT Evening News is a much greater insult to every intelligent citizen”, said Sinčić.
