Nicolau Santos: “It is not certain that RTP will not go into the red with a cut of seven million a year”

(Updating)

RTP “is not, at this time, a company that causes problems or concerns to the State.” But it could be. This is the opinion of the president of RTP, Nicolau Santos, who warned this Wednesday, in Parliament, of the possible risks of ending advertising on state channels, a measure announced by the Government last week within the framework of the plan to the media.

“It has not had any losses for 14 years,” Nicolau Santos began by highlighting. But “it is not certain that RTP will not fall into the red with a cut of seven million a year,” he said, referring to the estimated value that RTP will lose with the gradual end of advertising, which should begin in 2025. with a reduction of two minutes per hour, ending in 2027 with a total end.

How much are six minutes (of advertising) worth in RTP accounts?

“Last year there were three media groups with positive results, probably next year there will only be two because RTP will go into the red,” Nicolau Santos insisted. The president of RTP hopes to meet again “soon” with the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pedro Duarte, “to discuss financing alternatives”, which for Nicolau Santos could involve, for example, compensatory compensation for specific items such as RTP Africa, “as The BBC does it with the Commonwealth.”

Nicolau Santos also rejected the idea that with the cutting of RTP advertising these revenues would be transferred to private media groups. “That is not the international experience. The transfer has been to large international platforms. 15 years ago total advertising revenue was 375 million, today the figure is 200 million. It is a drama that will not be resolved if RTP stops having advertising, private companies will not solve their problem.”

The president of RTP confessed that the company has “numerous areas that are not profitable” and that they are developed “because we receive money from the Portuguese to fulfill the public service contract.” With the expected cut, “we may have to comply to a lesser extent. “It is not possible to continue doing the same thing if we have less money.”