Czech Public Media Workers Announce Strike Over Government Funding Overhaul
Overview of the Czech Public Media Funding Crisis
PRAGUE, June 17 (Reuters) - Czech public media workers have called a strike to protest the government's planned overhaul of a decades-old financing system that critics say cuts funding and leaves broadcasters vulnerable to political interference.
Details of the Planned Strike
Workers at Czech Television and Czech Radio said on Wednesday the strike action planned for Monday would be visible on both broadcasters, though they will remain on air. Hundreds of workers will join, they said.
Government's Proposed Funding Changes
The government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis' populist ANO party and including right-wing and far-right parties, agreed this Monday on a plan to end licence fees that have been the main source of funding for public television and radio stations.
It says most of the public do not want to pay the fees charged to households and businesses.
Shift to State Budget Financing
Instead, the government wants to finance the public broadcasters from the state budget and return funding to levels seen in 2008-2024, before a rare fee increase initiated by the last government took place in 2025. That will mean a 15% cut in financing.
Potential Impact on Jobs
Loss of Hundreds of Jobs
Czech Television's chief said this week that could mean forced layoffs of about 300-500 of the station's 2,900 staff.
Reactions from Media and Society
"The government coalition has consistently been ignoring calls by a significant part of society and protests by Czech and international journalists' organisations, as well as offers for an expert debate," Czech Television journalist Jan Molacek, a strike organiser, said.
The government has often lashed out at both public and private independent media that ruling parties see as biased. It says it is not threatening the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio with the changes.
Criticism from Opposition and Watchdogs
Opposition politicians and watchdogs say the changes are an attack on the broadcasters' independence. Reporters Without Borders said they also ran against EU rules on public media funding.
Additional Information
($1 = 20.8110 Czech crowns)
(Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Jan Harvey)
