Czech Senate rejects plan to shift public broadcaster funding to state budget

The Czech Senate voted that the government’s proposal to replace the licence‑fee system with direct financing from the state budget for public broadcasters Česká televize (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) is undesirable. Senators warned that the draft law would cut the broadcasters’ budgets by about 15 %, reducing total funding by roughly 1.4 billion crowns and could force the dismissal of 450 to 700 employees.

Senate members also stressed that the change would undermine the independence and quality of public media that have fulfilled legal obligations and maintained public trust. The Senate’s media commission, chaired by David Smoljak, highlighted the role of public broadcasters during crises, while some senators, such as Daniela Kovářová, called for broader reforms or even abolition of the public‑service model. Parallel criticism came from STAN MP Jan Canov, who urged ČT Sport to fulfil its public‑service remit by broadcasting youth athletics events that the government’s recent successes in junior athletics have achieved.

The government’s financing amendment was approved by the coalition cabinet in mid‑June, but faces significant opposition in both houses of Parliament.