Archive of articles - April 2002, page 10

Small TV stations in a lather for new rating method

BIG television broadcasters are dragging their heels on a project to introduce more accurate viewership ratings. Smaller broadcasters, whose miniscule viewerships and thus ad revenues could rise sharply under a new 'people metre' system, say they are willing to push ahead by themselves.The most popular station in the country, the privately-owned Markíza TV, regularly boasts a viewership according to the current 'diary' measurement method of over 75 per cent of Slovaks watching television at any one time. The public station Slovak Television (STV), the second most popular, claims between 30 and 40 per cent.

Moving violation

Study: EU entry benefits to arrive late

Parliament rejects VSŽ share report

Russians offer help in Bratislava subway

ZSNP tender later this month

In favour of lower Internet access prices

Letter to the Editor: Carrying guns legitimate

More layoffs in east Slovakia

Letter to the Editor: Beneš decrees site talk lacks perspective

Fico selling Mister Order washing powder

MPs challenge legality of Labour Code

Slovaks welcome Hungarian results

ŽSR asks for more money as losses continue

SLOVAK railway company Železnice Slovenskej Republiky (ŽSR) is planning a Sk3.14 billion loss in 2002. At the same time, the company is seeking a state guarantee on Sk8.4 billion in loans.ŽSR is expected to borrow 160 million euro (Sk6.7 billion) from JP Morgan Securities and Tatra banka, as well as Sk2 billion from Ľudová banka, to roll over loan and interest payments on a Sk7.4 billion loan that matures this year. The money is to cover losses on passenger transport between 1994 and 2001.An additional Sk1 billion should be allocated for investment and development under the ŽSR Project of Transformation and Restructuring, adopted in September 2000.

Letter to the Editor: Czech and Slovak not so different after all

Government downplays Jan-Mar budget deficit

THE FINANCE Ministry has claimed that this year's state budget targets are not under threat despite a first quarter deficit of 40 per cent of the 2002 target.Figures released at the beginning of this month showed that the state budget deficit had hit Sk15.2 billion from January to March, 40 per cent of the full-year target of Sk38 billion.Following the release of the data the Finance Ministry said the high figure had come on the back of early 2002 expenditures for financing the Sk100 billion restructuring of the banking sector that has been carried out over the last three years.

Letter to the Editor: SWC led by megalomaniacs

Green card process gets easier for EU nationals

LENGTHY delays and a frustrating paper-chase for foreigners seeking long-term residence in Slovakia have become a thing of the past - at least for some.On April 1, an amendment to the Law on the Stay of Foreigners went into effect, making the acquisition of long-term residence and work permission (a green card) much easier for citizens of European Union (EU) countries. However, application procedures for non-EU nationals have not been eased by the update, and in some cases times have even been extended.The law, approved in December 2001, allows citizens of EU countries to submit green card applications at police stations in Slovakia, rather than going through Slovak embassies and consulates abroad, as is still the case for everyone else.

Car sales slumpin 1Q02