Czech Lawmakers Vote to Shift Public Media Funding to State Budget

The Czech government moved to dismantle the household broadcasting fee in a late-night legislative session, overriding objections that the shift would compromise editorial independence.

Lawmakers from the governing coalition voted in the early hours of Saturday to send the bill to committees. The measure eliminates the 205 crown, or $9.45, monthly charge that families currently pay for access to public channels.

Under the new framework, the state budget assumes the cost of public media. The proposal also slashes funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by roughly 15 percent. Nominal allocations will remain frozen for several years following the cut.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis pledged to kill the fee before taking office in December of last year. His three-party government includes the far-right SPD party, which has frequently criticized media coverage of its policies. Babis argues the change benefits poorer households and forces broadcasters to operate with greater efficiency.

In a Facebook post late Friday, Babis dismissed claims that the reform threatens press freedom. "There is no war for independent media," he wrote. "There is no fight for democracy and no nationalisation of media is being prepared."

Opposition parties compare the move to reforms enacted in Hungary under Viktor Orban. Employees at the public broadcasters voiced alarm during a June strike, warning that budget dependence creates room for government pressure.

Public media remain central to Czech life, ranking among the most trusted news sources in the country. Czech Television draws the largest audiences across multiple age groups. A civic group has organized a demonstration for Sunday, while journalists and staff at the broadcasters announced a strike for November 3.