Czech Public Media Leaders Oppose Plans for Funding Cuts and Legal Revamp
Government Proposals Threaten Public Media Independence
PRAGUE, May 27 (Reuters) - Czech public television and radio bosses called on Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Wednesday to scrap legislative proposals to cancel fees paid by households, calling the steps destabilising and a funding cut.
Babis's government has sought to end monthly licence fees and move funding for the widely trusted public radio and television to the state budget.
Concerns Over Editorial and Financial Independence
Critics, including international media watchdogs, see the revamp as an attack on financial and editorial independence, inspired by countries, like Hungary, where media freedom has slipped. Public protests have drawn thousands.
Open Letter from Media Directors
"We are convinced that there is no rational reason for such a fundamental change in financing of public service media, nor for a complete change of media laws," the directors of Czech Television and Czech Radio said in an open letter.
Details of Proposed Legislation
EXEMPT AND THEN END
Changes to Licence Fees
The government is debating a law that would end the 150 crown ($7.19) monthly fee for Czech Television and 55 crowns for radio fee from next year.
Exemptions and Budget Impact
A second proposal would exempt small companies and seniors over 75 years from paying the licence fee already this year, costing the stations millions of dollars.
Under proposals, funding for Czech Television would come in at 5.73 billion crowns next year, about 1 billion less than it receives from fees.
Media Leaders Warn of Destabilisation
"Both proposals... reduce the current extent of services provided by both media and aim toward a significant reduction in their budgets," the letter signed by Czech Television director Hynek Chudarek and Czech Radio director Rene Zavoral said.
"Such approach... leads to their destabilisation and eventually marginalisation."
Government's Position and Public Trust
The government has argued state funding is common in Europe.
Babis, a billionaire businessman, has called coverage by public and private media biased against him.
Public Trust in Media
Czech Television and Czech Radio each had the trust of 59% of Czechs in a 2025 Reuters Institute survey, the highest among media included in the poll.
($1 = 20.8610 Czech crowns)
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Toby Chopra)
