Broadcasters and media groups warn over Czech plans to scrap licence fee
June 23, 2026 12.58 Europe/London By Julian Clover


A coalition of European broadcasters, media organisations and press freedom groups has voiced strong opposition to plans by the Czech government to abolish the television and radio licence fee and replace it with direct state budget funding from January 2027.

The statement, signed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the EBU Executive Board, the Public Media Alliance, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Press Institute (IPI) and more than 20 public service broadcasters across Europe, argues that the proposal risks undermining the independence and sustainability of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo).

According to the signatories, the funding model announced by the government would reduce annual funding to CZK 5.74 billion for ČT and CZK 2.065 billion for ČRo, levels they say would represent a significant real-terms cut compared with current revenues.

The organisations warned that the proposed funding could force reductions in regional services, journalism, cultural programming, sports coverage and international broadcasting activities. They also noted that the funding levels would effectively return public media funding to levels seen around two decades ago despite inflation and rising production and technology costs.

The groups expressed particular concern over the absence of safeguards to protect editorial independence. They said there were no proposals for ring-fenced funding, multi-year settlements or protections against politically motivated budget reductions.

“Any reform of public service media funding, regardless of the model chosen, must be adequate, stable, predictable, and accompanied by strong, binding safeguards for editorial independence,” the statement said.

The signatories also criticised the lack of consultation with Czech Television and Czech Radio, saying the proposals had been developed without meaningful engagement with the broadcasters or wider stakeholders.

The intervention comes as employees at both public broadcasters staged industrial action to protest against the proposed changes.

Among the organisations backing the statement are public broadcasters from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine, alongside media freedom organisations including the European Federation of Journalists and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.

The coalition has called on the Czech authorities to halt reforms that could weaken the current funding system, introduce legally binding guarantees of editorial and financial independence, consult fully with the broadcasters and conduct a broad public and parliamentary debate before any changes are implemented.

The controversy comes as public service broadcasters across Europe face growing pressure from streaming platforms, social media and global technology companies, while also playing an increasingly important role in combating disinformation and maintaining trusted news services.