Czech government moves to end household TV fee

Prime Minister Andrej Babis pushed through a legislative change late Friday that eliminates the 205 crown broadcasting fee for Czech households. The governing coalition voted to send the bill to committees during a rare overnight session that continued into the early hours of Saturday. This move fulfills a promise Babis made before taking office last December to scrap the charge.

Under the new structure, the state budget will replace the direct household levy. The plan also reduces annual funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. After this initial cut, nominal funding levels are scheduled to remain stable for several years. The government argues this model is fairer to lower-income residents and encourages broadcasters to operate with greater efficiency.

Babis, who leads a three-party coalition including the far-right SPD, has faced criticism for his media policies. His administration has frequently accused public and private outlets of bias. In a Facebook post issued late Friday, the prime minister dismissed concerns that the financial shift threatens press independence. He stated there is no war for independent media and no preparation for the nationalization of media.

Opponents of the bill have drawn comparisons to reforms implemented under Hungary's former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Employees at public broadcasters have expressed alarm over the new funding mechanism. They argue that relying on the state budget makes them vulnerable to political pressure from the executive branch.

Public broadcasters hold a prominent position in Czech society. They rank among the most trusted news sources in the country. Czech Television remains the most-watched broadcaster across multiple age demographics. This high level of public trust raises the stakes for the upcoming changes.

Civil society and labor groups are preparing to respond to the legislative move. A civic organization has organized a public demonstration for Sunday. Journalists and other staff at the public broadcasters have announced a strike for November 3 to protest the funding overhaul.