In an unprecedented move, Spain has seen closure of a regional public TV broadcaster in RTVV (Radio Television Valenciana), which covers the Region of Valencia, in the East of Spain.

Financial problems have led the regional government of Valencia to shut down its public TV and radio service. RTVV had tried to fire 1,000 of its 1,700 workers to keep the broadcaster running, but a court ruled that plan was not lawful, prompting the regional government to announce the station’s closure.

“The only other course is sadly to close down the region’s public radio and television service. Taking back more than a 1,000 employees makes its survival impossible,” the Valencia regional government said in a statement.

“Just the cost of maintaining a workforce of 1,700 would require around €72 million,” which on top of the company’s operations “is a cost the regional government cannot meet at the moment,” it said.

In the case of [public broadcaster] RTVV, the accumulated debt, assumed by the regional government surpasses €1 billion, a figure that makes it very clear that RTVV is unsustainable in the measures at the time”, concludes the statement.

It is the first time that a public TV closes down in the country. Other regional TV stations, such as Telemadrid, may follow suit if the Courts overrules the dismissal of its 860 workers.

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