five years. Beginning 1998 it will pay 50 million SKK every year while in the last year the installment will be a little bit higher, Radio-Communication company director Gabriel Szanto communicated to SITA. The state-run STV stopped paying for the transmission of its programs in November 1996 although it had previously paid for the services properly. STV Director Igor Kubiš announced to Radio- Communication Company that the STV will not be able to pay in 1997 and can begin only in 1998. Szanto said that in 1997 STV paid the arrears for 1996 and the first month of 1997. The rest of the overdue money for 1997 will be paid back according to an installment calendar agreeing on 50 million SKK installment each year during the agreed upon five year period while the last year the STV will pay somewhat higher amount. Monthly payment for transmission of program is rough 28 million SKK and thus the Slovak Television total debt to the Radio- Communication company exceeds 300 million SKK. The first installment agreed to be paid in 1998 was already paid but payments for this year are delayed, Szanto said. The STV is a public-law institution living on commercials, associated activities and the state budget. This year the state budget allocates 294.9 million SKK to STV and through

other budgetary items the television got additional 50 million SKK from the state to cover its debt to the Slovak Telecommunication and compensate for the elevated Value-Added-Tax on telecommunication services and also to enhance original Slovak programming.