Overview
- The cabinet approved a plan on Monday to end household and business licence fees and fund Czech Television and Czech Radio from the state budget beginning next year.
- Thousands of people marched in Prague on Sunday to protest the government's decision, gathering outside public television offices with banners defending media independence.
- Staff at public broadcasters staged a one-day warning strike on Monday, forming a human chain, delaying some programmes and limiting online services to protest the funding change.
- Broadcaster management says the plan would reduce funding by about 15%, force cuts to production and could lead to roughly 300–500 layoffs at Czech Television alone.
- Critics and international media groups say the move hands the Babiš-led coalition a lever to influence editorial content, citing recent media shifts in Slovakia and Hungary and prompting organisers to plan further actions.