TRM faces serious financing problems

It is more and more difficult for the national public broadcaster to cope with the stiff competition. Its broadcast schedule contains mainly rerun or achieve programs and this affects the image of the broadcaster. According to a study by the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”, during the last few years Teleradio-Moldova (TRM) has faced serious financing problems. As a result, the quality of the company's programs and newscasts may worsen, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a news conference, study author Veaceslav Berbeca said there are a number of causes why TRM is underfunded. One of them is the economic crisis that hit Moldova in 2009. A sum of 70 million lei was allocated to the public broadcaster from the state budget last year, by about 10,000 lei less compared with 2008. This year, the allocations will not exceed last year's volume. Though the company's budget is planned by the administration of TRM and is approved by the Supervisory Board, the Ministry of Finance suggests its own figures that do not take into account the broadcaster's necessities. Attending the launch of the study, MP Corina Fusu said that TRM over the last few years saw professional, moral and technical degradation because there was censorship. The state did not make effort to help this institution. However, in 2010 the Parliament provided supported and the company improved the quality of its programs and news bulletins. Corina Fusu said that the commission on culture, education, research and mass media put forward proposals when the broadcaster's budget was drawn up, but they were not taken into account owing to the crisis and the lack of money. TRM president Constantin Marin said the institution has large historical debts, while the allocated resources are not sufficient for implementing all the planned measures. “The company must be reformed, but investments is needed for this. A public company cannot solved its technological problems only with the money coming from commercial activity and from international funds,” said Constantin Marin. On the other hand, Minister of Finance Veaceslav Negruta said the study includes only general theses. “The costs of the public broadcaster before 2009 were considerable. Over 25 million lei was invested in 2009 in installing analogical equipment, not digital one. The money was spent without thinking about the company's prospects,” said the minister. “The state budget deficit makes the authorities to decide on the spending priorities. This is due to financial constraints, not because TRM is good or bad.” The study also contains recommendations. According to Veaceslav Berbeca, the legislative body should more actively engage in the planning of the national broadcaster's budget and there should be institutionalized a new system of payments for the services provided by IS Radiocomunicatii for the company.