Government wants to abolish fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio
Published
Government MPs approved in the first reading, during a late-night session, a bill that abolishes the fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio. Under the bill, the funding of these public broadcasters would be moved away from the state budget. MPs debated the bill late into the night, and the Chamber of Deputies sent it on for further consideration.
Households and businesses pay the fees every month, and the money is used to finance the programmes of both public broadcasters. Abolishing the fees would therefore mean a change in how these media will be funded in the future. The bill does not yet have its final form and may still be changed.
Critics of the bill point out that the state could gain greater influence over how the media operate, because the parliament approves the budget. Representatives of the governing coalition, on the other hand, say they want to make the public broadcasters work more efficiently and reduce costs for citizens.
The next reading of the bill will be on the Chamber's agenda in the coming weeks. Whether the bill becomes law will depend on how MPs vote and on whether the Senate and the president also give their approval.
Sources: Hospodářské noviny
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