Pérez Tornero shares in the Senate the Corporation's commitment to gaining international presence

The president of RTVE, José Manuel Pérez Tornero, in his first parliamentary appearance after the appointments of its top management, has shared the Corporation's commitment to gaining international presence and has announced his candidacy for the Executive Council of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

"I have the support of the big countries. Probably in July RTVE will be on the executive of the EBU, with active participation in Europe," he commented in his appearance this Thursday in the Senate.

In addition, it has announced a Spanish-German public audiovisual summit this year and similar ones with France and Mexico; and they will also work on an audiovisual summit with Morocco. In addition, a project will be studied news channel for Latin America produced by RTVE.

In relation to another of the burning issues, telecom rates, the president of RTVE has admitted that its cut could subtract around 128 million euros from the budget. “It is a very considerable item, but it will depend on the next Financing Law, if it is reformed, on how it articulates the different incomes of the Corporation.” In this sense, he said that "it seems important to me that new avenues of income be opened to us that compensate for the previous ones; if the telecom tax is withdrawn, it will translate into a commitment to collaboration," he indicated.

The president of RTVE added that "what matters to us is maintaining budgetary stability. All groups must be responsible for maintaining the public service," he noted and expressed his concern about "falling into an endemic deficit that cannot be overcome."

Financing model

It has also announced that the audit of the 2020 accounts will be ready next week and will be presented to the Board of Directors to report on the company's economic situation. Regarding the deficit, he has indicated that it will be around 31 million euros and the debt “around 120 million.”

Regarding RTVE's financing model and a possible return to advertising, Pérez Tornero has stated that modifying the system does not correspond to RTVE, "it is a matter for Parliament" and has highlighted that the Corporation needs "a predictable, reliable system that guarantees that we can fulfill the mission attributed to us."

"Talking about advertising, I don't think it can guarantee sustainability and RTVE probably has to be allowed to have other commercial benefits in the future. A transparent, reliable and incentivizing system would be important, an issue that is under discussion and that should be part of the parliament's agenda in the coming months," he detailed.

In another order of things, he has shown a very determined position to end the temporary employment at RTVE and has said that the key to ending the temporary employment is the oppositions. He explained that before the end of the year, 343 places are expected to be put out to tender. Work experience at RTVE will be valued as merit and it is estimated that between 12 and 13 thousand candidates may apply, he explained. “We are making efforts to ensure that the interim period is strictly necessary,” he added.

Prime time preview

On the other hand, regarding the constant drop in audiences, he has recognized that the advance of prime time that TVE adopted at the end of March 2020 has hardly influenced the changes in viewer habits and has harmed the network's data. "The problem is very complex. The majority of viewers don't go to bed, they go to other channels. We have not achieved the goal of changing the lives of Spaniards." He added that combining different experiences is being studied. “Starting in October we will have a platform that will allow us to have a combined strategy of different offers from the same program,” he indicated.

On the other hand, Pérez Tornero has referred on several occasions throughout his appearance to the sexist comments made in recent TVE broadcasts and has highlighted RTVE's firm commitment to equality, although he has said that “more must be done.” “I am committed to presenting a concrete plan for internal implementation,” he said. He has also explained that the Equality Observatory will be strengthened to establish a system so that what happened "is not possible and is inconceivable."

Finally, regarding The Clear Things, he explained that the program contract ends on June 30 and there is the possibility of maintaining it until the Olympic Games (July 23) or making a new one for that short period. "The proposal from the management of TVE is to continue it with another format. It will be debated and decided on June 1 in the Board of Directors," he explained.