Czech Radio and Czech Television unions declare strike alert over media bill

Trade unions at Czech Radio and Czech Television have declared an open-ended strike alert in protest against a planned government bill on public service media. The time and form of the protest is still being considered.

The government-proposed legislation would shift the funding of public service media from license fees to the state budget. Czech Radio’s management has criticized it as “incomplete, hastily prepared and, in some provisions, even hostile”. It argues that the proposed level of funding from the state budget would significantly limit the broadcaster’s activities and undermine its independence.

The civic group Million Moments for Democracy has launched a petition in support of the country’s public broadcasters. According to the group, the government of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš intends to dismantle, without public debate, the long-standing funding system that has ensured the independence of public service media for decades.

The initiative gathered more than 3,800 signatures within hours, with a protest march planned in Prague in early May.