Czech Parliament Refers TV Fee Abolition Bill to Committees

Czech parliament voted late Saturday to send a bill abolishing the household broadcasting fee to committee review.

The governing coalition secured the vote during a session that extended into the early hours of the morning. The legislation eliminates the 205 crown charge, equivalent to $9.45, that households currently pay for television and radio access.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis pledged to remove the fee before taking office in December 2025. His three-party coalition, which includes the far-right SPD party, has frequently criticized media coverage of its policies. Babis stated that the new funding model is fairer to low-income families and encourages operational efficiency.

The proposal replaces the household fee with state budget allocations. It also reduces funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. Under the plan, nominal funding levels will remain static for several years after the initial cut.

Opponents argue the shift ties broadcaster finances directly to government control. Opposition parties compared the reform to changes implemented in Hungary under Viktor Orban. Employees of the public broadcasters raised concerns during a strike in June, warning that state funding creates vulnerability to political pressure.

Babis dismissed these concerns in a social media post on Friday. He wrote, "There is no war for independent media," and added that no nationalization of media is being prepared.

A civic group has organized a public demonstration for Sunday. Journalists and staff at the broadcasters have scheduled a strike for November 3.

Public media outlets maintain high trust levels in the Czech Republic. Czech Television remains the most-watched broadcaster across multiple age groups.