Czech licence fee proposals face broadcaster strike
November 2, 2026 12.49 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Credit VitVit.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has proposed making television and radio licence fees voluntary, as public broadcaster employees prepare to strike on November 3 over changes to their funding.

The Finance Ministry is examining a revised model for Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo), combining voluntary contributions with guaranteed funding. However, the source and size of that guarantee have yet to be specified.

Babiš said the government wanted to allow people to choose whether to pay, while exploring funding that would not come directly from the state budget. The proposals were due to be discussed by the coalition council on November 2.

The initiative would change the approach in the bill that passed its first parliamentary reading on October 24. That legislation envisages replacing compulsory licence fees with state-budget contributions. Babiš’s latest suggestions therefore remain proposals rather than an agreed replacement system.

Employees represented by the Veřejnoprávně initiative have announced a full-day strike for November 3, warning that transferring funding to the state would threaten the independence and stability of both broadcasters. Organisers say the action will be more visible than an earlier protest in June.

The government argues that guaranteed, predictable funding can preserve editorial independence. Opposition politicians have called for the existing bill to be withdrawn before a different model is developed, criticising plans to introduce substantial changes during its passage through parliament.

Babiš has acknowledged that the changes cannot take effect in January 2027 as originally intended. A 60-day parliamentary review period means the second reading is now expected in January, leaving the current licence fee system in place in the meantime.