Between 450 and 700 jobs could be lost as funding cut to Czech television and radio
PRAGUE – Opposition is growing to the government’s plan to abolish broadcasting licence fees in order to shift public media to direct state funding, with significant reductions to their budgets.
Czech President Petr Pavel will meet Culture Minister Oto Klempíř on Tuesday as pressure mounts over the proposal approved by the cabinet of the right-wing populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, which critics warn could breach EU media rules by replacing an independent funding model with annual state budget allocations.
The overhaul has already triggered a 24-hour warning strike by employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio, drawn criticism from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and fuelled accusations that Prague is undermining media independence.
“The proposal is absolutely shocking,” Czech Television Director General Hynek Chudárek said when the government unveiled the reform in mid-June. “Almost liquidation,” he added.
