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Krajcer Plans Changes in Public Media as of January 2012
Tuesday 24 August 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, August 24 (TASR) - The Culture and Tourism Ministry announced plans on Tuesday to rewrite the way in which public-service media Slovak Television (STV) and Slovak Radio (SRo) are financed by the end of next year, describing the changes as one of the ministry's priorities.
Minister Daniel Krajcer told TASR in an interview that the changes will include the replacement of licence fees with payments from the state budget.
According to him, this is part of the Government's programme and will require an efficient model specifying what will be financed and to what amount. He rejects criticism that such financing is tantamount to nationalising the public service media.
The minister said that it is the status quo, of all things, which has given rise to doubts over the existence of these media. "If we were to leave things in this increasingly worse condition, notably for STV, huge pressure for abolition would emerge in two years' time," he said, adding that he wants to preclude this via his reforms.
In his view, it isn't essential whether these media are state-controlled or public service institutions. Of importance is the content of the broadcasts and their funding so that they are genuinely a public service. "This is important for me, and their content will have to be laid down by law," said Krajcer. Claims that paying STV and SRo from the state budget will link them to politicians or the Government is nonsense, he said.
Laying down rules for content by law will minimise political influence on operations and the funding of public-service media. "I view it as fairer model and in effect their depoliticisation," said Krajcer.
Of all things, it is annually provided subsidies that have provided room for various ad hoc arrangements via which influence has been exerted on broadcasters and the way in which the management functions, said the minister. He described the creation of councils for STV, SRo and the election of general directors by them as buck-passing. "Each council member must have been approved by the parliamentary caucuses of the ruling parties. What are we playing at here?," he said.
Oversight of the media will also a topic of discussions concerning the planned changes.
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