Czech MPs Vote to Replace 205-Crown TV Fee With State Budget

Czech lawmakers voted in the early hours of Saturday to send a bill to committee that ends the 205-crown household broadcasting fee. The measure shifts the cost of public media to the state budget.

Under the proposal, the government will cover the expense currently paid by households. The plan also reduces funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. Nominal funding levels will remain flat for several years following the initial cut.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a billionaire and populist leader, pledged to abolish the fee before taking office in December 2025. His three-party coalition, which includes the far-right SPD, framed the vote as a fulfillment of that campaign promise. Babis defended the new model on social media late Friday, arguing that it is fairer to poorer households and forces media outlets to operate more efficiently.

In a Facebook post, Babis dismissed concerns that the shift threatens press freedom. "There is no war for independent media," he wrote. "There is no fight for democracy and no nationalisation of media is being prepared." He added that no nationalization of media is being prepared.

Opposition parties have compared the reforms to changes made under Viktor Orban, the former prime minister of Hungary. Employees of the public broadcasters have also expressed alarm. They argued in June that tying funding to the state budget leaves them vulnerable to government pressure. That disagreement led to a strike in June.

Public media hold a prominent position in Czech life. Czech Television is the most-watched broadcaster across several age groups, and public outlets rank among the most trusted news sources in the country. The shift to state funding alters the financial structure that supports these trusted institutions.

A civic group has called for a public demonstration on Sunday. Journalists and other employees at the broadcasters have announced a strike for November 3.