Czech public broadcasters face state‑funding overhaul amid resignations

The Czech government, led by Minister of Culture Ota Klempíř, plans to replace the existing licence‑fee system for Česká televize (ČT) and Český rozhlas (ČRo) with direct financing from the state budget. The reform would cut the two organisations’ budgets by roughly 15 % and could force the dismissal of 450‑700 of the 4 250 staff members.

In protest, four of the five members of the Ministry of Culture’s Film‑Award Commission resigned, warning that the move threatens the independence of the public media and jeopardises the production of audiovisual works that rely on ČT’s collaboration. The resignations were signed by Kateřina Svatoňová, Michaela Pavlátová, Roman Vávra and Ondřej Kepka.

President Petr Pavel met with ČT, ČRo and European Broadcasting Union officials, expressing support for a debate on the role and financing of public service media. Leaders of Lithuania’s LRT and Sweden’s public radio also warned of growing political pressure on public broadcasters across Europe.

Opposition parties and cultural NGOs have condemned the plan as an attack on media independence. Thousands demonstrated in Prague, and ČT and ČRo workers announced a 24‑hour strike in response to the proposed changes.