Czech Parliament Advances 205 Crown TV Fee Abolition
The governing coalition voted to refer a bill to committees that replaces household broadcasting fees with state budget funding while cutting media budgets by 15 percent.
By Christopher Singh ·
Lawmakers in the Czech Republic voted in the early hours of Saturday to advance a bill that eliminates the 205 crown household broadcasting fee. The measure shifts the financial burden of public media from individual residents to the national state budget.
The proposal includes a reduction in funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. Under the plan, nominal funding levels would remain unchanged for several years following the initial cut. The vote occurred during a rare overnight session that extended into the early morning hours.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis pledged to abolish the fee before taking office in December of last year. His government, which includes the far-right SPD party, argues the new model is fairer to poorer households. Babis stated on Facebook late Friday that the changes would encourage broadcasters to operate more efficiently. He rejected claims that the move threatens press freedom, writing, "There is no war for independent media." He added, "There is no fight for democracy and no nationalisation of media is being prepared."
Opposition parties have compared the restructuring to reforms implemented under former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Employees at the public broadcasters have expressed concern that linking their funding directly to the state budget will increase government influence over editorial decisions. The broadcasters held a strike in June to protest the proposed changes.
Public media maintain a strong position in Czech society, ranking among the most trusted news sources in the country. Czech Television remains the most-watched broadcaster across multiple age groups. The shift in funding structure raises questions about the operational independence of these outlets as they transition to state budget support.
A civic group has organized a public demonstration for Sunday to oppose the changes. Journalists and other staff members at the public broadcasters have announced a strike for November 3. The bill now moves to parliamentary committees for further review and discussion.
