The new model of financing of the public service broadcaster RTVS will scrap license fees, the main source of RTVS' income becoming instead the new state contribution at 0.17 percent of GDP introduced recently. Both the ex-premier and Democrats' leader Eduard Heger and SaS chair Richard Sulík welcomed the change. Sulík noted that as of July 1, people will stop paying the license fee, which was a totally unsustainable way of financing the PSB. “This is the measure we in SaS championed”, he claimed, adding that direct financing will ensure a higher level of independence.
The Bill approved by the Parliament in February 2023 defines as a licence fee payer every person in the records of the electricity supplier in the country as well as every employer registered as electricity payer employing three and more contracted employees. There is no additional fee cancelation procedure necessary to introduce. The only exception is a permanent bank order. In such case the person concerned is obliged to cancel the bank order him or herself.
If a fee-payer has already transferred the whole year’s 2023 licence fee, the difference will be credited back starting from July on. To avoid any inconveniences all concerned parties are advised to check their licence fee accounts online. Uhrady RTVS
Should the public service broadcaster find any outstanding debts before 1st of July 2023, a written request to pay will follow during the second half of this year.
RTVS continues to be a subject of audit by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic and subject to the control of the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic. This should eliminate the influence of the executive power on the financing mechanism and functioning of the public service broadcaster.
Source: RTVS
