Czech MPs vote to end TV fee and cut media budgets

Andrej Babis and his governing coalition advanced a bill to change how Czech public media are funded. The move follows a promise Babis made before taking office last December to abolish the household broadcasting fee. The plan directs that the state budget will now cover the costs instead of the 205 crown, or $9.45, fee paid by households.

The bill also reduces the financial support for Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. Under the proposal, these lower funding levels will remain in place for several years without further nominal adjustments. Babis, who leads a three-party government backed by the far-right SPD party, has often criticized media coverage of his administration. He argued the new model is fairer to poorer households and will force outlets to operate with greater efficiency.

In a Facebook post published late on Friday, Babis addressed concerns about press freedom. He stated, 'There is no war for independent media.' He added, 'There is no fight for democracy and no nationalisation of media is being prepared.' The prime minister framed the change as keeping a pledge to voters rather than a political attack on journalists.

Lawmakers voted to send the bill to committees for further discussion during an overnight session that extended into the early hours of Saturday. This procedure allows for detailed review before a final vote. The coalition secured the necessary votes to move the legislation forward despite internal disagreements over the pace of the changes.

Opposition parties have compared the shift to reforms implemented by Viktor Orban, the former prime minister of Hungary. They argue that moving funding to the state budget gives the government direct leverage over editorial decisions. Employees at Czech Television and Czech Radio share this concern. They went on strike in June to protest the potential for increased government pressure.

Public media remain a central part of Czech daily life. Czech Television is the most-watched broadcaster across multiple age groups. The networks are also among the most trusted news sources in the country. This high level of public trust raises the stakes for any change in their financial structure.

Protests against the measure are scheduled for the coming weeks. A civic group has organized a public demonstration for Sunday. Journalists and other employees at the public broadcasters have announced a new strike for November 3 to continue their push against the funding overhaul.