Government bill to abolish license fees for public broadcasters approved in first reading

The Czech ruling coalition pushed a controversial bill to abolish license fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio through its first reading in the lower house in the early hours of Saturday, after unexpectedly forcing a vote on the proposal on Friday.

The vote took place following a heated overnight debate during which the opposition fought to block the proposal.

Several hundred people demonstrated against the proposed changes overnight outside the Parliament building. At one point, angry protesters attempted to force their way in, but police prevented them from doing so and guarded the building throughout the night.

The opposition has pledged to continue fighting the bill during the subsequent stages of the legislative process.

Culture Minister Oto Klempíř told MPs during the debate that the proposed funding model was a standard solution in Europe. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš rejected claims that the change un funding was  an attack on democracy or a nationalisation of the public broadcasters.

Under the proposal, Czech Television would receive a total of 5.74 billion crowns from the state budget next year, paid in monthly instalments. This is one billion crowns less than the broadcaster plans to collect in licence fees this year.

Czech Radio would receive 2.065 billion crowns from the state, approximately 400 million crowns less than its expected licence fee revenue this year.