By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-10-03 08:50:19 | Updated at 2026-10-03 09:28:46
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POLITICS · COLOMBIA
Key Facts
- —The country Colombia, where the state media system RTVC runs Señal Colombia, Radio Nacional and Radiónica. President Abelardo de la Espriella took office on 7 August 2026, succeeding Gustavo Petro.
- —What happened On 2 October 2026 government spokesman Miller Soto said the broadcaster was COP148.4 billion (about US$44.8 million) short of its 2026 revenue forecast as of 31 August.
- —The numbers By 31 August, the broadcaster said, it had collected COP312.3 billion (about US$94.3 million) but committed COP356.6 billion (about US$107.7 million), a gap of COP44.3 billion (about US$13.4 million).
- —What it means for you No signal cut has been reported. Management says payroll, social security and transmission are paid first; contractors and event suppliers may wait longer.
- —Still open Whether the government adds emergency cash, how much of the forecast still arrives before December, and whether Petro or former manager Hollman Morris dispute the figures.
Colombia’s state public media system, RTVC, had collected about two thirds of its 2026 revenue forecast by 31 August. The new government says the shortfall leaves public radio and television close to an operational shutdown.
RTVC first published the figures in a statement that Vanguardia reported on 26 September. On Friday, 2 October, presidential spokesman Miller Soto blamed former president Gustavo Petro and former RTVC manager Hollman Morris.
What the figures show
RTVC runs Señal Colombia, Radio Nacional and Radiónica, the open-air channels that reach towns without cable or fibre. It forecast income of COP460.7 billion (about US$139.1 million) for 2026, at COP3,312 per US dollar on 2 October.
By 31 August it had collected COP312.3 billion (about US$94.3 million), leaving COP148.4 billion (about US$44.8 million) still to arrive. Over the same period it had signed commitments worth COP356.6 billion (about US$107.7 million).
That is COP44.3 billion (about US$13.4 million) more than the cash actually received. Soto said concerts and events were contracted while electricity bills and station rents went unfunded.
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A gap that is partly timing
The headline number compares a full-year forecast with eight months of collections. By the end of August it had received 67.8% of its forecast, close to the 66.7% of the year elapsed.
Some of the missing money may therefore still arrive before December. Neither management nor the government has said how much of the remaining forecast it still expects.
The firmer problem is the overcommitment. Spending signed beyond cash in hand must be paid from money not yet received, or cut back.
A political charge, not yet an audit
Soto spoke from the Casa de Nariño, the presidential palace, in pointed language. “They left and scraped the pot clean,” he said, warning that public radio and television could go dark across wide areas.
The new administration has been examining the broadcaster since it took office. In August it ordered a review of more than 1,051 public media contracts worth about US$32 million.
No public reply from Morris or Petro had been reported by Saturday morning. The figures come from the broadcaster’s own statement, and no independent audit of them has been published.
What the new management plans
RTVC’s new manager, Ángela María Mora, will pay payroll, social security and signal costs first, Soto said. She has also ordered a clean-up of pending obligations and a review of budget execution.
RTVC will ask the ICT ministry, its Fondo Único (the state telecoms fund) and the Finance Ministry for a payment schedule. It also wants a temporary cash fix and a plan to the end of the budget year.
What Is Not Yet Known
It is unclear whether the government will inject emergency funds, and how much. The concerts and events Soto criticised have not been itemised publicly.
It is also open whether any contract will be challenged or referred to Colombia’s control bodies. For now, viewers and listeners have seen no interruption.
What is RTVC?
RTVC is Colombia’s state public media system. It runs the television channel Señal Colombia and the radio networks Radio Nacional and Radiónica, which reach areas without cable or internet.
Is Colombian public television going off the air?
Not at present. The government warns of a risk to the signal, but no interruption has been reported. Management says transmission costs are paid first.
Who is blamed for the shortfall?
The government of Abelardo de la Espriella blames former president Gustavo Petro and former RTVC manager Hollman Morris. No public reply from either had been reported by 3 October.
Sources: La Opinión (from El Colombiano), 2 October 2026; Semana, statement by government spokesman Miller Soto, 2 October 2026; Vanguardia, RTVC statement with 31 August cut-off, 26 September 2026; El Colombiano, 2 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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