Fall in telco taxes helps drive RTVE deficit up by €135MN

DetailsJuan Fernandez Gonzalez | 27 March 2015




RTVE's already huge deficit has grown by a further €134.8 million, partly due to the fact that income from taxes to telecom operators amounted to a figure 42.2% lower than initially expected.


For 2014, the Spanish public broadcaster had relied on €261 million from taxes paid by the telcos, who are the largest providers of external income since the network banned advertising in 2010. But due to the low profits of many of Spain's telcos, the amount gathered through taxes was only €151 million, €110 million less than expected.

But the deficit increase isn't due only to external factors - RTVE's exploitation expenses grew by 4.4% last year, nearing €1,000 million. Staff costs also grew, in spite of the structural changes and dismissals, from the budgeted €349.9 million to €377.1 million.

Both the former and current corporation presidents said that reducing expenses was a priority in order to hold back the increasing deficit, but no one has succeeded so far.

In a public announcement, RTVE explained that financial sustainability is assured for 2015, as the VAT law reform should guarantee additional income of €90 million