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Nov 01, 2026
Czech Government Proposes Voluntary TV and Radio Fees Without State Budget
Prague Morning
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People in the Czech Republic could soon be allowed to decide whether they want to pay television and radio licence fees under a new funding model being prepared by the government.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the Finance Ministry is working on a system that would make contributions to Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) voluntary while ensuring the two public broadcasters receive a guaranteed level of funding.
The proposal is expected to be discussed by the coalition council on Monday.
For now, however, the existing system will remain in place. Although the government had initially hoped to introduce changes at the beginning of 2027, Babiš said the legislative timetable makes that unlikely.
Under parliamentary rules, the bill requires a 60-day review period before moving forward. That means its second reading would fall during the Christmas period, delaying further debate until at least January 2027.
The proposed changes have already sparked political and public opposition.
On October 24, the Chamber of Deputies approved in its first reading a proposal to abolish television and radio licence fees. The governing coalition, made up of ANO, SPD and the Motorists party, added the measure to its priority legislative agenda. The vote took place early in the morning after a lengthy parliamentary debate.
Opposition parties have warned that changing the funding system could expose public broadcasters to greater political pressure. Government representatives have rejected those concerns, saying the planned reform does not threaten democratic standards.
Babiš has said the final model must comply with European requirements concerning the independence of public media and predictable funding.
The issue has also prompted demonstrations. On October 25, thousands of people gathered in Prague’s Old Town Square for a protest organised by the Million Moments for Democracy movement.
Participants expressed concern that changes to the financing of Czech Television and Czech Radio could increase political influence over the broadcasters.
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