Grants continue to be an important source of funding for the media in the Republic of Moldova. External financial support plays a significant role in maintaining the activity of both television and radio stations, according to the findings of the study “The media market in the Republic of Moldova: realities and trends in 2025,” released by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) in July.
According to the research, the total amount of grants accessed by TV channels in 2024 was almost 39 million lei, equivalent to 13.7% of their total annual revenues. In some cases, external sources covered between 13% and 15% of television stations’ annual budgets. In 2022, however, the share of grants in total revenues was higher – 15.3%. Thus, although more providers accessed grants in 2024, dependence on this source of funding has remained relatively constant over the last three years, fluctuating between 13% and 15%.
In the case of radio stations, the data also show an increase in the share of grants in providers’ budgets. While in 2023 only four broadcast media service providers accessed grants, accounting for only 0.55% of the sector’s annual revenues, in 2024 the percentage increased almost fourfold, reaching 2.04%. In addition, the proportion of grants in each station’s budget increased significantly: from a maximum of 55% in 2023 to up to 70% in 2024.
At the same time, the authors of the study point out that, in addition to grants and revenues from audiovisual commercial communications, media service providers in the Republic of Moldova supplement their budgets from a range of other economic activities. In the case of television stations, additional sources of funding include: event broadcasting, filming, editing, streaming, program and film production, event organization, equipment sales, online advertising, rental and subletting services, and other media production services. In the case of radio stations, additional revenues come from renting space, selling programs, organizing events, producing audio spots, voice-over services, as well as loans, donations, and credits.
“Most media service providers are facing tight budgets, citing the ongoing economic crisis. At the same time, some of them complained about money problems even when there were no crises, while others have grown and are still growing their businesses despite the crisis,” the authors of the document note.
In the context of external financing, the authors of the study draw attention to the effects of the cessation of USAID funding in the spring of 2025, which are and will be felt throughout the year and whose impact on the advertising market in the Republic of Moldova is unknown.
Previously, Media Azi wrote about the pressing financial difficulties faced by newsrooms in the Republic of Moldova.