Minister: Czech TV, Czech Radio to come under state budget, but no merger

The Motorists party’s minister of culture, Oto Klempíř, says planned legislation will end a system under which Czech Television and Czech Radio are funded by license fees and place the broadcasters under the state budget.

Mr. Klempíř, whose officials are drafting such legislation, said after meetings with the stations’ director generals that the two entities would not be merged; this idea has been backed by ANO and Freedom and Direct Democracy, the two other parties in the government.

The coalition is also working on interim legislation to waive license fees for some sections of the population, a move that Czech Television and Czech Radio say would greatly reduce their budgets.