Zagreb, (IKA) — Croatian Television (HTV) executives presented on May 29 the largest project in HTV history — five days of media coverage of the forthcoming third pastoral visit by Pope John Paul II to Croatia, that will require a HTV staff of 486. For the direct broadcasts, 109 cameras and 9 news vehicles will be used. In addition to the Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) equipment on the HTV news vehicles, there will also be two other such vehicles and a special helicopter.
Besides special studio programs, HTV will also provide 13 hours of direct live coverage of the Holy Father’s visit. HTV’s acting program director, Jasna Ulaga Valić, said that everything has been done to acquaint the public with the importance of this event and with the person of John Paul II, and the broadcasts will be repeated in prime time. She pointed out that the entire project would not have been possible without cooperation from the Government, which will contribute to the financing, and also from the Church.
The details of the four months of television preparations were presented by the executive project director, Fr. Tonči Trstenjak. Commenting on the costs of the Pope’s visit, which will total two million three hundred thousand kunas, Fr. Trstenjak noted that everything being spent for the Pope’s visit will remain in Croatia. Thanks to the Pope’s visit, the renovation of the HTV technical facility was speeded up. For the Republic of Croatia, it is of inestimable value that Croatia will be present on all the continents of the world during the five days of the Pope’s visit.