HRT Remembers Legendary Dopuđa
On Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, the public broadcaster recalled the anchor whose 'special greeting' during the war carried special weight for Croatian defenders and their families.
On Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, the public broadcaster recalled the anchor whose 'special greeting' during the war carried special weight for Croatian defenders and their families.
On this day, August 5, 2026, as Croatia marks Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans' Day, and the 31st anniversary of the Operation Storm, Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) has shared an emotional tribute to one of the most recognizable faces in its news history. This is Branimir Dopuđa, a longtime journalist and editor whose simple sign-off during the war years became a symbol of support and hope.
Viewers especially remember him for the sentence with which he ended the main evening news. After wishing the audience a pleasant evening, Dopuđa would send a special greeting to those defending Croatia on the battlefields. "Dear viewers, I wish you a pleasant evening, and to Croatian defenders, wherever they may be, a special greeting," was his legendary sign-off, which HRT has once again shared with the public.
In a time when news from the front lines was anxiously awaited every day, this brief statement carried immense emotional weight. It let the defenders know they were not forgotten, and it gave their families at least a moment of comfort and encouragement.
Branimir Dopuđa began his television career in 1974 at the then Television Zagreb. Over the decades, he held a number of responsible journalistic and editorial positions. He was in charge of the main news program and the show 'Jučer, danas, sutra' (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow), and also served as assistant editor and acting editor of the News Program.
His role was particularly significant during the Homeland War, when the news program was a crucial part of daily life for many people. After the war ended, he became the first editor of HRT's satellite program 'Slika Hrvatske' (Image of Croatia), intended for Croats living abroad. For his many years of professional dedication, he received the HRT Lifetime Achievement Award 'Ivan Šibl' in 1994.
Branimir Dopuđa passed away on July 30, 2023, but his recognizable greeting to Croatian defenders remains permanently etched in the history of Croatian television journalism. On this day, as tributes are paid in Knin and across the country to all participants of Operation Storm, the memory of his voice and the message that instilled hope testifies to the importance of the media in the most difficult historical moments.
