RTV Slovenija faces liquidity crisis amid high viewership

RTV Slovenija is facing a severe liquidity crisis, according to reports indicating the public broadcaster is on the verge of a financial collapse. The institution, which employs approximately 2,000 people, has had to take loans from the state treasury to cover payroll. In June, the broadcaster borrowed 8.1 million euros, of which only about 2.5 million euros has been repaid, leaving a debt of 5.6 million euros.

Critics, including former director-general Igor Kadunc, attribute these financial difficulties to poor management and delays in signing essential contracts with the Ministry of Culture and the Office for Nationalities. Had these contracts been signed earlier, the broadcaster could have secured an additional 7.7 million euros in inflows, potentially avoiding the need for loans.

Despite these financial and administrative challenges, viewership data for RTV Slovenija shows a contrasting trend. The broadcaster reported that its first and second programs reached 93.3 percent of the Slovenian population between January 1 and July 31, 2026, totaling approximately 1.78 million unique viewers. This growth in viewership, including an increase in the audience for the TV Dnevnik news program, occurs even as general television viewership trends downward.