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Portugal's RTP faces €3.9 million loss after 15 years of profits

A financial turning point for RTP as frozen funding and inflation erase profits. Can Portugal's iconic broadcaster recover from its first loss in over a decade?

The image shows a graph depicting the lost revenue by extent of global economic losses. The graph...
The image shows a graph depicting the lost revenue by extent of global economic losses. The graph is accompanied by text that provides further details about the data.

Portugal's RTP faces €3.9 million loss after 15 years of profits

RTP, Portugal’s public broadcaster, will report a €3.9 million loss for 2025 after 15 consecutive years of profits. The shift comes as rising costs and frozen revenue since 2016 push the organisation into the red. Financial director Sónia Alegre had already flagged the deficit in early 2026. The broadcaster’s troubles stem from revenue that has remained unchanged since 2016, while expenses continue to climb. Low inflation had masked these pressures until recently, but higher prices now make the situation unsustainable. In 2024, RTP still posted a modest profit of €341,000, but 2025 saw a sharp decline.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 42.3% in 2025, landing at €7.35 million. This figure also reflects a change in how EBITDA was calculated compared to 2024. Meanwhile, the Audiovisual Contribution (CAV), RTP’s main funding source, rose slightly by 1.2% to €195.7 million. The financial strain coincides with political developments. In May 2026, elections for RTP’s Advisory Council were held. Earlier, the Parliamentary Transparency Committee ruled that three candidates nominated by Chega could serve on the council without breaking the Statute of Deputies.

The €3.9 million loss marks a clear break from RTP’s long run of profitability. With revenue stagnant and costs rising, the broadcaster faces financial pressure heading into 2026. The outcome of the Advisory Council elections may further shape its future direction.

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