Czech Households Drop 205-Crown Fee as State Budget Absorbs Media Costs
Lawmakers voted to replace the household levy with state funding, a move that cuts broadcaster budgets by 15 percent and sparks warnings about editorial independence.
By Natalia Thornton ·
Czech households will no longer pay the 205-crown monthly broadcasting fee, a change that shifts the financial burden to the state budget. The governing coalition advanced the measure in a late-night parliamentary session that concluded in the early hours of Saturday.
The bill, which is now moving to committees, eliminates the 205-crown ($9.45) household levy. In its place, public media will receive funding directly from the state. The proposal also reduces the operational budgets of Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. Nominal funding levels are slated to remain static for several years following the cut.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who pledged to abolish the fee before taking office in December 2025, defended the shift as a fairness measure. In a social media post on Friday, Babis argued the new model benefits poorer households and forces broadcasters to operate more efficiently. He dismissed claims that the reform threatens press freedom, stating that there is no war on independent media and no plan to nationalize outlets.
Critics argue the changes mirror reforms implemented under former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Opposition parties and broadcaster employees contend that tying funding to the state budget exposes public media to political pressure. The government, led by Babis and supported by the far-right SPD, has frequently criticized both public and private media for biased coverage.
Public media remain a central pillar of Czech information. Czech Television is the most-watched broadcaster across multiple age groups, and public outlets rank among the most trusted news sources in the country. Employees staged a strike in June over the proposed funding tie, and a civic group has called for a public demonstration on Sunday.
Journalists and other staff at the broadcasters have announced a new strike for November 3. The bill must still pass through committee stages before becoming law, but the coalition’s vote signals its intent to replace the household fee with state-controlled funding.
Source: Al Jazeera
