Czech Public Media Funding Bill Sent to Committees

The Czech governing coalition voted early on Saturday to send a bill overhauling public media funding to parliamentary committees for further discussion. A coalition is a group of parties that together govern, and committees are smaller groups of lawmakers who examine proposed laws in detail before the full chamber decides. The vote followed a move on Friday by the ruling coalition to fast-track the legislation, Reuters reported.

The bill would scrap the household broadcasting fee of 205 crowns ($9.45), which households pay to support public broadcasters. In its place, the state budget would fund Czech Television and Czech Radio. The proposal would cut funding for the two broadcasters by about 15 percent, while keeping their nominal, or face-value, funding unchanged for several years. Reuters reported that the cut could take effect as early as next year.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis promised before taking office last December to scrap the fee. In April, the government announced plans to end user fees for public media and move financing to the state budget from next year. Babis has said the new model would be fairer to poorer households and would encourage broadcasters to become more efficient. Al Jazeera reported that he said on Facebook late on Friday that no nationalisation of the media is being prepared.

Critics say the overhaul threatens media independence. Public media employees staged a strike in June against the change, arguing that it would leave broadcasters vulnerable to government pressure. That same month, journalists at Czech public radio formed a chain in a warning strike over the funding plan, according to AP.

Journalists and other employees at Czech Television and Czech Radio have announced a strike for November 3, 2026. A civic group has called a public protest for Sunday, October 25, 2026.