Czech Voters End 205-Crown TV Fee

Czech households will stop paying a monthly 205 crown fee for public broadcasting. The governing coalition voted late Friday to advance a bill that shifts this cost to the state budget. The measure eliminates a charge that equates to $9.45 per month for every home.

Lawmakers held a rare overnight session that extended into Saturday. They voted to refer the bill to committees for further review. The proposal also cuts funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio by approximately 15 percent. Nominal funding levels will remain unchanged for several years following the initial reduction.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis pledged to abolish the fee before taking office last December. He leads a three-party government backed by the far-right SPD party. Babis defended the new model as fairer to lower-income families. He argued it would force broadcasters to operate more efficiently.

In a Facebook post late Friday, Babis rejected claims that the changes threaten 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."

Opposition parties compare the reforms to measures taken by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Employees at Czech public broadcasters have expressed alarm over the shift. They argued that relying on the state budget leaves them vulnerable to government pressure.

Public media hold a prominent place in Czech life. Czech Television is the most-watched broadcaster across several age groups. Outlets rank among the most trusted news sources in the country. A civic group has called for a public demonstration on Sunday. Journalists and other employees have announced a strike for November 3.