Klempíř’s draft media bill thrown out, says Babiš

The Czech cabinet will no longer consider a draft new media bill put forward by the minister of culture, Oto Klempíř, in view of the fact that it had received 400 remarks in a review process, news site Denik N quoted Prime Minister Andrej Babiš as saying on Saturday.

Mr. Babiš said that instead changes would be made to the existing media law to allow for a new system of funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio.

The three-party coalition government aims to do away with the current licence fee funding model for the public broadcasters, saying they should come directly under the state budget. This move will lead to smaller budgets for the two stations, while critics say it may also lead to political interference.