Reznik Receives Letter of Appointment as RTVS General Director
Bratislava, July 17 (TASR) – The new general director of public broadcaster Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) Jaroslav Reznik received his letter of appointment from Parliamentary Chairman Andrej Danko and head of Parliament’s culture and media committee Dusan Jarjabek on Monday, TASR learnt on the same day.
Reznik is set to replace incumbent RTVS head Vaclav Mika in August.
Danko (Slovak National Party/SNS) said that Reznik has a strong mandate, having received 95 votes from MPs in the second round of the vote concerned on June 20.
“I’d like to wish Mr. Reznik every success in his role and in picking the best co-workers, and most importantly for Parliament I hope that he’ll preserve a public-service character in line with the broadcaster’s needs,” said Danko.
Danko also expects Reznik to implement and carry through his plan to launch a third RTVS television channel, to work to prevent an increase in licence fees and to pinpoint budget reserves in RTVS.
Jarjabek (Smer-SD) also called Reznik’s mandate “strong”, while noting its binding nature. He said that he hopes that Reznik – who is taking over the RTVS helm after serving as head of the News Agency of the Slovak Republic (TASR) – will carry forward his correct approach to working together with the parliamentary committee.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Slovak Television and Slovak Radio to have the highest listener and viewer ratings among the Slovak media,” said Jarjabek.
Meanwhile, Reznik vowed to exercise his new role in an honest and free manner and to the benefit of the public as a whole.
“RTVS is set to face a number of tasks over the next five years. This includes not only the one that some of us have indicated – that is, launching a third television channel – but also enhancing all other services, be they radio, television, online or others,” said Reznik, who envisions launching the third channel by 2020 or possibly even in 2019 if circumstances warrant this.
Reznik declined to reveal who will fill the posts in RTVS’s senior management, but he did say that he wants RTVS’s funding to be discussed with MPs.
Reznik was born in Ruzomberok (Zilina region) on July 12, 1966. In 1993, he was named director of Slovak Radio’s (SRo) regional studio in Kosice, before going on to become SRo head (1997-2005).
He was appointed as TASR’s general director by the then government on April 4, 2007, and he took up the post the next day. When TASR was transformed by a law from a co-subsidised organisation into a public service institution, TASR’s management board re-elected Reznik as general director for a five-year term in April 2009. He was again re-elected as the agency’s head by the management board in January 2014, beginning another five-year term on April 30, 2014.
