On 15 November, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Prague to protest against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government’s plans to change the funding system for Czech Television and Czech Radio. The demonstrators are demanding the withdrawal of a bill which, in their view, poses a threat of political control over independent broadcasters.
- Tens of thousands of people gathered in Prague to defend public service media.
- The government plans to abolish licence fees for television and radio.
- Funding for public service broadcasters could be cut by around 15 per cent.
- The protesters are demanding that the bill be withdrawn and that the editorial independence of the media be guaranteed.
Protesters are demanding that the government back down
A mass demonstration took place at Letná Field in Prague. The event was organised by the civil society association «A Million Moments for Democracy». Participants arrived carrying Czech flags and placards calling for an end to political interference in the work of journalists.
According to the organisers’ estimates, the number of demonstrators has already exceeded that of the March protest, when large-scale demonstrations also took place in the capital anti-government protests.
What the media funding reform entails
The governing coalition is proposing to abolish the monthly licence fees for public television and radio, which currently total 205 Czech koruna per household.
Instead, broadcasters will receive funding directly from the state budget. The proposed model also provides for a reduction in their funding of approximately 15 per cent.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš explains the reform as a means of reducing the financial burden on citizens. At the same time, opponents of the bill are convinced that dependence on the state budget will make news organisations more vulnerable to political pressure.
The bill has already passed its first reading in parliament, but a final decision has not yet been taken.
Journalists are warning of a threat to freedom of speech
Critics of the reform have drawn parallels with events in Hungary and Slovakia, where changes to media legislation have raised concerns about the independence of journalists.
In early November, staff at Czech Television and Czech Radio held a one-day strike. Students, artists and representatives of civil society organisations also joined the protest movement.
The current The demonstration took place on the eve of the 37th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which brought an end to the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
