Czech Republic advances media funding overhaul despite criticism

For context, the Czech Republic's governing coalition has advanced changes to the funding of public media, despite criticism that it could weaken broadcaster independence.

Key points

• The changes include scrapping the 205 crown ($9.45) household broadcasting fee, and replacing it with funding from the state budget.
• Opposition parties have compared the changes with reforms under neighbouring Hungary's former Prime Minister, Viktor Orban.
• The proposal would cut funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by regarding 15 percent and keep nominal funding unchanged for a number of years.
• Public media are among the most trusted news sources in the Czech Republic, with Czech Television the most-watched broadcaster throughout a number of age groups.
• "There is no war for independent media, " Babis remarked on Facebook late on Friday.

In a rare overnight vote in the early hours of Saturday, the coalition voted to send the bill to committees for further discussion.

Notably, the changes include scrapping the 205 crown ($9.45) household broadcasting fee, and replacing it with funding from the state budget.

Notably, the populist administration of billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis, backed by the far-right SPD party, has frequently criticised public and private media coverage of its policies and accused some outlets of bias.

Babis promised to scrap the broadcasting fee before taking office last December, and notes his three-party administration is now fulfilling that pledge to voters.

Public media employees staged a strike against the move in June, saying it would create broadcasters vulnerable to administration pressure.

Babis has remarked the new funding model would be fairer to poorer households and encourage outlets to become more efficient.

"There is no war for independent media, " Babis remarked on Facebook late on Friday. "There is no fight for democracy and no nationalisation of media is being prepared."

In practice, the proposal would cut funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by regarding 15 percent and keep nominal funding unchanged for a number of years.

While journalists and other employees at the broadcasters confirmed a strike for November 3, a civic group has called a public protest for Sunday.

Taken together, the developments around czech Republic advances media funding overhaul despite criticism point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.