THE STV television station and Slovak Radio want to sell their headquarters’ buildings in Bratislava in 2005, reported the Hospodárske noviny business daily.
The reason is that operating and maintenance costs are just too high.
Slovak Radio has to pay Sk120 million (€3.15 million) and the STV Sk42 million (€1.1 million) annually on their headquarters’ buildings and surroundings.
The management of both companies also say that the buildings need costly reconstruction work.
According to Hilda Gajdošová, however, economic director of Slovak Radio, the costs for reconstruction of the Slovak Radio building would equal the cost of building a completely new headquarters.
Branislav Záhradník, a member of the STV management, estimates the costs for reconstruction of the STV building at Sk64 million (€1.68 million).
Another reason for a change is that both buildings were designed for a far higher number of employees than both institutions currently have.
The STV headquarters are designed for more than 4,000 people while today there are only 800 people working there.
Slovak Radio’s building (shaped like an inverted pyramid) was designed for 1,200 employees but today there are 700 people currently employed there.
Both media outlets would like to start the sale process as soon as possible. However, approval from the Radio and Television councils is needed.
Estimates suggest that the market price of the Slovak Radio site could range from Sk1.5 billion to Sk1.8 billion (€40 million to €50 million).
Construction of a new radio building could cost from Sk700 million to Sk800 million (€18.34 million to €21 million).
The STV wants to announce an international tender for the sale of its building.
The STV Council has already calculated within this year’s budget that income from the building’s sale could reach Sk335 million (€8.6 million).
The STV management itself however still did not reveal the estimated value of the building.
Compiled by Marta Ďurianová from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
