The public service broadcaster Slovak Television (STV) has been told it will have to reduce its costs. It was challenged to do so by the Supervisory Commission of STV because of lower advertising revenues and lower collection of concessionaire fees paid by viewers.
The broadcaster reports rising costs of preparations to switch from analogue to digital. Planned revenues of the public broadcaster for the first half of 2010 could not be achieved; the overall shortfall of revenues was €11.6 million. The largest shortfall was in advertising revenue (€4.722 million) and in compensation from the government for payers exempt from the duty to pay fees (€6.5 million), which the STV expected to receive as it did last year.
The Supervisory Commission therefore recommends the management of STV to try to eliminate the main shortfalls and also make every effort to obtain compensation from the state for payers exempt from the duty to pay fees. According to the Commission, the STV management should minimize investment expenditures and other items to save wherever possible.
(Source: Radio Slovakia International)
