Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Prague on June 21 to protest against the Czech government’s proposed reforms to public media funding. Critics argue that these changes could undermine the financial stability of public broadcasting and pave the way for political interference.
The march, organized by the group Milion Chvilek, saw participants carrying banners supporting public media as they moved through several districts of the city, ultimately gathering outside the Czech Television headquarters. Due to a heatwave affecting Prague and other parts of Europe, the route was shortened.
“Media do not belong to politicians,” stated Mikuláš Minář, a representative of the organizing group, at the start of the march.
This protest coincided with a planned strike by employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio, which is set to impact programming schedules, although broadcasting will continue.
The government recently decided to eliminate license fees, which have been the primary funding source for public television and radio for decades. The ruling populist party, ANO, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, claims that the majority of the population does not support these fees imposed on households and businesses. Instead, the government proposes direct funding from the state budget for broadcasters. Critics warn that this shift could threaten media independence.
The proposed reforms would revert funding levels to those seen between 2008 and 2024, prior to an increase in fees implemented by the previous government in 2025. This change could result in a funding reduction of approximately 15%. The General Director of Czech Television has indicated that these modifications could lead to layoffs affecting between 300 to 500 of the network’s 2,900 employees.
The Czech government has a history of criticizing both public and independent media, accusing them of bias. Officials maintain that the proposed changes will not jeopardize the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio.
A significant protest in Prague against proposed reforms to public media funding highlights concerns over media independence in the Czech Republic. The government's decision to eliminate license fees has sparked fears of increased political influence over broadcasting.
Source: Reuters