Czech government shifts TV and radio funding from licence fees to state budget, cuts budgets

The cabinet led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš approved a law that eliminates the licence‑fee system for Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo). Both organisations will receive direct subsidies from the state budget – 5.74 billion CZK for ČT and 2.065 billion CZK for ČRo – amounts that are roughly one‑billion and 400 million CZK lower than the revenues they would have collected from fees this year, a reduction of about 15 percent.

The financing change is expected to force personnel reductions. ČT’s director Hynek Chudárek warned that 300‑500 jobs could be cut, while ČRo’s head René Zavoral foresees 150‑200 layoffs, meaning a total of 450‑700 employees may lose their positions. Staff have already staged protests in Prague, Brno and Ostrava and unions have announced a 24‑hour warning strike.

Opposition parties and media analysts criticised the move as a step toward state control of public service media. Commentators described it as “nationalisation of public media” and warned that funding through the general budget could undermine editorial independence. Babiš defended the reform, stating, “The aim is that citizens no longer have to pay bills for a service they do not use.” Minister of Culture Ota Klempíř said the new scheme will bring “greater efficiency” while preserving the current legal safeguards for ČT and ČRo.

The law also introduces an inflation‑adjustment clause that would trigger a valuation only if cumulative inflation reaches ten percent. The proposal is set to be debated further in the Chamber of Deputies.