The Slovak public broadcaster STV faces a doomsday scenario if it fails to secure state subsidies totalling €19.9 million this year.
Quoted in HN, its head Stefan Niznansky said that the consequences could include laying off 250-300 people; the possible closure of STV3, a sports channel launched last year that offers HD programming; and a halt to digitalisation.
STV failed to secure an emergency grant of €5.4 million last year and says that its income has been reduced by the government both reducing its commercial airtime and making more people exempt from paying receiver licence fees
Although STV plans to launch a fourth channel, offering educational/children’s programming or documentaries, within the next two to three years, it is currently loss making and operating on a provisional budget.