AVMU denies illegal treatment of Arena sports channels

The Macedonian Media Association (MMA) and Macedonian Radio Television (MRT) have raised serious allegations against the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AVMU). They claim that the sports channels Arena M1, Arena M2, and Arena M3 Premium are operating illegally in North Macedonia without domestic licenses. The MMA and MRT argue that while the channels are treated as foreign re-broadcast services, much of their production, including journalists, commentators, and studio broadcasts, takes place in Skopje and is produced in the Macedonian language.

The complainants allege that these services, linked to Serbian companies, are bypassing local laws and potentially causing budget damage through unpaid licensing. They have announced intentions to submit findings to the Public Prosecutor and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to investigate potential media piracy and regulatory negligence.

AVMU has categorically denied these accusations, describing them as “inaccurate and unfounded.” The Agency maintains that it is acting strictly within its legal mandate based on documentation from domestic and foreign institutions. AVMU clarified that the Arena channels are classified as foreign services because their original signal is not broadcast from within North Macedonia, thus justifying their status as re-broadcast services rather than domestic broadcasters.