Czech Households Drop TV Fee as State Takes Over Funding

Czech households will no longer pay the 205 crown ($9.45) monthly broadcasting fee under a plan approved by the governing coalition. The change shifts the cost of public media to the state budget, a move that Prime Minister Andrej Babis promised to deliver before he took office last December.

Lawmakers voted in a session that extended into the early hours of Saturday to send the bill to committees for further review. The proposal eliminates the direct charge on residents but reduces the total funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. Under the new rules, nominal funding levels will remain static for several years.

Babis, who leads a three-party government backed by the far-right SPD, argued that the shift is fairer to lower-income families. He stated that the new model would force broadcasters to operate with greater efficiency. In a Facebook post on Friday, he denied that the changes threaten press freedom, writing, "There is no war for independent media," and adding that no nationalization is being prepared.

Critics remain skeptical of the government's assurances. Opposition parties have compared the funding shift to reforms implemented by Viktor Orban, the former prime minister of Hungary. Employees at the public broadcasters have expressed concern that linking their budgets to the state will increase political pressure on editorial decisions. These workers previously staged a strike in June to protest the proposed changes.

Public broadcasters currently hold a strong position in the country. They rank among the most trusted news sources in the Czech Republic. Czech Television remains the most-watched broadcaster across multiple age groups, making the funding change a high-stakes decision for the national media landscape.

Protest activity is set to continue this week. A civic group has organized a public demonstration for Sunday. Additionally, journalists and other staff members at the broadcasters have announced a strike for November 3 to oppose the new funding structure.