Czech Lawmakers Advance Bill to End TV Fee and Cut Broadcaster Budgets

Andrej Babis, the billionaire prime minister of the Czech Republic, moved his governing coalition's plan to reshape public media financing through parliament on Saturday. Lawmakers worked through an overnight session and sent the bill to committees for further discussion. The session ran into the early hours of Saturday.

The proposal would end the 250 crown household broadcasting fee, which equals $9.45, and route that money through the state budget instead. It would cut funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by about 15 percent, after which nominal funding would remain flat for several years. Babis pledged to abolish the fee before taking office last December, and his three-party government says it is delivering on that commitment.

Babis leads a coalition backed by the far-right SPD party. His government has criticized both public and private media outlets over their coverage of its policies and has accused some outlets of bias. In a Facebook post late on Friday, he rejected claims that the bill 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." He has argued the model is fairer to poorer households and would push outlets to operate more efficiently.

Opposition parties have compared the changes to reforms carried out under Viktor Orban, the former prime minister of neighbouring Hungary. Staff at the public broadcasters have objected as well. They struck in June over concerns that state budget funding would expose them to government pressure. Employees have announced a further strike for November 3, and a civic group has called a public demonstration for Sunday.

Public broadcasters occupy a prominent position in Czech media consumption. Czech Television ranks among the most-watched broadcasters across several age groups, and public media rank among the most trusted news sources in the country.