Czech government plans to change public media funding
The Czech government has announced a major plan regarding the funding of public media, such as Czech Television and Czech Radio. From January 2027, the current system of license fees paid by citizens is set to change, with the aim of replacing them with direct funding from the state budget.
According to the government's proposal, public media would thus become more dependent on state funds. This move has sparked a wave of discussion among experts, politicians, and the general public. According to available information, the government's main goal is to simplify the entire system and modernize payments for media services.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and other organizations have, however, expressed concerns about this intention. Critics point out that direct funding from the state budget could threaten the independence of the media from politicians. They fear that the government could have greater influence in the future over how the media reports on current events.
The debate over this change will continue in the Chamber of Deputies in the coming months. It is expected that lawmakers will have to carefully weigh all the risks to ensure that public media remains free and objective even after 2027.