TVR cannot pay the broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Cup due to an insufficient budget and outdated infrastructure, says director Adriana Săftoiu.

Romanian Television (TVR) is in a critical situation, unable to pay for the broadcasting rights of the 2026 World Cup matches due to an insufficient budget and outdated technical infrastructure, according to director Adriana Săftoiu. Although TVR received 90 million euros in 2025, she believes that the public broadcaster is in a 'technological Middle Ages.' Antena 1 has acquired the broadcasting rights for 15 million euros and has proposed sublicensing some matches to TVR, but the offer was not feasible due to costs of approximately 5 million euros, which TVR cannot afford.

Săftoiu emphasized that the technical modernization of the television is a higher priority than broadcasting the tournament, mentioning that just for an essential broadcasting system, 2.5 million euros are needed. Investments in infrastructure have been neglected for 15 years, and most of the current budget is consumed by salaries. Although a potential qualification of the national team for the World Cup could change priorities, Săftoiu remains skeptical about the realism of this scenario. In conclusion, she highlighted the existential problems facing TVR, stating that broadcasting the World Cup seems like a utopia under the current conditions.