Public broadcasters announce strike action in protest of government’s plans to abolish license fees

Employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio have called a one-day strike for Tuesday, November 3, in protest against the government’s plans to abolish license fees and replace them with state funding, representatives of the Veřejnoprávně initiative, which brings together public-service media staff, have announced.

Speaking to journalists outside Czech Radio’s headquarters on Vinohradská Street in Prague, Veřejnoprávně representatives said plans to transfer funding for the public service providers to the state budget threatened the independence and stability of both broadcasters and would have a negative impact on public finances.

Trade unions at both institutions criticised the lack of expert debate on the role of public-service media.

Under the government-proposed bill, now to be debated in the lower house, Czech Television and Czech Radio would receive around 15 percent less funding from the state budget than the amounts available to them following last year’s increase in license fees.