Further deterioration of the liquidity position of RTV Slovenia

RTV Slovenia has paper money but lacks funds in its account, according to reports. The situation has raised concerns among employees, with union representative Tom Zalaznik stating that the management will be held accountable for the issue. RTV Slovenia received less than expected funding from the state treasury, which has worsened its liquidity position. The public broadcaster had anticipated receiving a loan of 12 million euros from the state treasury, but was instead approved just 9.5 million euros. Despite this shortfall, RTV Slovenia assured that August salaries would still be paid on time. However, the discrepancy highlights a larger issue regarding the delayed disbursement of over 15 million euros in government funds that were allocated under existing legislation. The liquidity crisis at RTV Slovenia has been exacerbated by ongoing disputes between the broadcaster and the government. According to amendments to the law governing RTV Slovenia passed late last year, the state has committed to providing specific funding for two areas: national programs and music production. For the year 2026, this amounts to approximately 10.88 million euros for national programs and 4.35 million euros for music production, totaling around 15.23 million euros. However, these funds have not yet been fully disbursed due to disagreements over how they should be allocated. The Ministry of Culture and the Office of the Government for Nationalities believe a contract must be signed to outline the scope of the financial support, obligations of RTV Slovenia, and the manner in which the funds will be used. RTV Slovenia, however, argues that such a contract is unnecessary because the obligation of the state is already defined by law. This disagreement has led to RTV Slovenia having to take out loans to maintain its current operations. In June, RTV Slovenia secured a loan of 8.1 million euros from the state treasury, but part of this loan remained outstanding by the end of the month. Now, the treasury has approved a new loan amount that is 2.5 million euros less than RTV Slovenia had anticipated. The dispute over the need for a contract is not new. Previous governments failed to reach an agreement with RTV Slovenia on this matter. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Culture sent RTV Slovenia a draft contract for financing music production, but no agreement has yet been reached with the Office of the Government for Nationalities. The state's insistence on a contract is based on the principle that these funds are earmarked for specific purposes. The amendment to the law stipulates that the provision of these funds must follow procedures related to the preparation of financial plans by budget users. RTV Slovenia, on the other hand, maintains that it has consistently fulfilled its obligations, including the implementation of national programs and music production, while the state has not fully met its legal responsibilities. As a result, RTV Slovenia finds itself in an unusual position: the funds are legally allocated, the broadcaster expects them, and the state refuses to disburse them due to the dispute over the method of distribution. This has forced RTV Slovenia to rely on loans to maintain its liquidity. The impact of this situation is becoming evident. RTV Slovenia is projected to finish the year with a deficit of around 2.4 million euros instead of nearly breaking even. Financial constraints are leading to program cuts, including fewer international premieres, the cancellation of a planned major autumn entertainment show, and 20 fewer live sports broadcasts. The recent complication with the treasury serves as a warning that the problem is no longer distant from the daily operations of the institution. Union representative Tom Zalaznik, who is currently on leave and learned about the situation today, responded directly to the question of responsibility: “The management of RTV Slovenia had until December or the end of last year to resolve these issues with either the previous or current government.”