Politics · Other · 4 hrs ago
Czech public media workers strike over proposed funding changes
Czech public television and radio workers held a one-day strike on Tuesday to oppose a government funding plan.
The plan would replace regular fees paid by households and businesses with funding from the state budget.
It also proposes cutting funding by about 15%, which critics say could lead to layoffs and fewer programs.
Workers and other critics fear the changes could leave public media open to political pressure and weaken editorial independence.
The bill passed a preliminary vote last month and is awaiting further debate in parliament, where the government says changes are possible.
Protests in support of the broadcasters were planned in Prague and other cities.
Czech public television and radio workers began a one-day strike on Tuesday against a proposed change to their funding.
The government plan would move funding from household and other fees to the state budget and cut the broadcasters’ funding by 15%.
Workers and critics say the changes could threaten editorial independence and lead to layoffs, reduced programming and cancellations.
The strike curtailed broadcasts, with public radio airing music and television showing limited programming.
The bill has passed a preliminary vote and awaits further debate in parliament.
- Who
- Workers at Czech public television and radio. The strike is backed by unions, students and other groups.
- What
- They began a one-day strike against a proposed overhaul of public media funding.
- When
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Where
- The Czech Republic, including Prague.
- Why
- Workers oppose shifting funding to the state budget and a proposed 15% cut, which they say could threaten independence and viability.
Public media workers and critics
Czech government
Funding model
Public media workers and critics
The proposed shift to state-budget funding and a 15% cut could make broadcasters vulnerable to political pressure and threaten their viability.
Czech government
The government says it is fulfilling a promise to reduce people’s financial burden; Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said no one wants to take over public media or place it under state control.
Editorial independence
Public media workers and critics
Critics say the changes could give the governing coalition tools to influence media content.
Czech government
Babiš said the government does not want to take control of public media.
Street protests took place in Prague against the proposed funding overhaul.
The government introduced the bill on a Friday; it passed a preliminary vote before dawn on Saturday.
Babiš said the government was meeting a promise to reduce people’s financial burden.
Public television and radio workers began a one-day strike, with broadcast curbs.
Public protests were planned, with students also planning marches in Prague and other major cities.
- Strike duration
- One day
- Proposed funding cut
- 15%
- Current household fee
- 205 crowns per month
- Television funding reference point under proposed cut
- Nominal budget would return to the level of 2008
- Radio funding reference point under proposed cut
- Nominal budget would return to the level of 2005
- Bill status
- Passed a preliminary vote; further debate in parliament is pending
3 sources
What people are saying
This proposal, if passed, will give the government coalition tools to politically influence the content of both public media
There is no fight over democracy. Nobody wants to take over the public media or bring them under state control
Such a funding model opens the door to political pressure and threatens editorial independence
We are doing everything we can to ensure that we can continue to provide a public service in its full scope and quality in the future.