Many citizens in the Czech Republic are aghast over the premiere of POKEMON on the public TV network, Slovak TV. The Slovak media council has complained that the show has a negative psychological effect on children due to its level of violence. Because the station is a public broadcaster, the council has the right to ban the program. If done, this move could destroy Slovak TV. The station is currently in dire financial straits, owing over a million dollars to various companies for purchases made over the past three years. Slovak TV reportedly paid 13 million Slovak crowns (US$275,000) to obtain POKEMON. Slovak TV said it obtained POKEMON because it wanted to air a series that represented the changing face of children's programming worldwide.