RTVC public media system faces 148,391 million peso deficit

The Colombian public media system, RTVC, is facing a financial deficit of 148,391 million pesos, threatening the continuity of public radio and television signals including Señal Colombia, Radiónica, and Radio Nacional de Colombia.

The administration of Abelardo de la Espriella reported that the deficit stems from significantly lower revenues than projected and contractual commitments made without sufficient cash flow. While initial projections estimated revenues of 460,654 million pesos for 2026, only 312,263 million pesos had been collected as of August 31. This has left the entity with a gap between its obligations and available funds.

Spokesperson Miller Soto attributed the crisis to the management of the previous administration under Gustavo Petro and Holman Morris. The current director, Ángela María Mora, has implemented a contingency plan to prioritize payroll, social security, and essential operational costs to prevent a total signal blackout. The entity is seeking a disbursement route and a transitional cash solution from the Ministry of ICT, the Ministry of Finance, and the Single Fund to maintain services and pay outstanding debts such as rent and utilities for repeater antennas.