The Basque Government will finance EiTB with 473 million for the next four years

The new program contract includes a budget allocation for the operation of the Entity for the next 4 years; 115.7 million in fiscal year 2016, 116.7 million in fiscal year 2017, 119.1 million in fiscal year 2018 and 121.6 million in fiscal year 2019.

The Basque Government has approved the regional radio television program contract for the period 2016-2019. This document defines the contents of the public service mission assigned to EiTB and establishes the financing guidelines.

The program contract establishes the description of the public service offered by EiTB, the commitments assumed for its provision, the activities and objectives to be met by EiTB and its companies, the commitments of the Basque Government in relation to the financing of the entity, as well as the execution control mechanisms. It is a financing formula with detailed commitments and indicators for monitoring and compliance.

On these bases, the program contract affects the concept of public service requesting, among other obligations, that "quality information be guaranteed, with content that is a true reflection of reality duly verified in reference information sources, prepared by a team of professionals, whose professional practice is oriented to the defense of truth, freedom, plurality and human rights."

EiTB must also “promote Basque and an increasingly bilingual society, encouraging the appreciation of bilingualism as a social element of equity, cohesion and modernity.”
The program contract includes EiTB's commitments to the dissemination of Basque culture and the promotion of sport with specific indicators on its treatment in the different media of the communication group.

On the other hand, the Basque autonomous community must promote the audiovisual industry, generating economic and cultural returns to society.

473 million program contract

The new program contract includes a budget allocation for the operation of the Entity for the next 4 years; 115.7 million in fiscal year 2016, 116.7 million in fiscal year 2017, 119.1 million in fiscal year 2018 and 121.6 million in fiscal year 2019. These amounts are intended to balance the difference between own income from advertising sales and other management income and the total expenses for the public service work entrusted to EiTB.

Therefore, in addition to providing EiTB with the necessary stability to meet the objectives established for the public entity, the new program contract defines the public radio and television service with television, radio and Internet offerings in Basque and Spanish; generalist, with diverse and balanced programming; sustainable, with public financing and complementary own income; and responsible, with transparent management before its governing bodies and society.