Overview
- Unions at Czech Television and Czech Radio, which declared a strike alert Wednesday, say the plan threatens editorial independence.
- The ruling coalition plans to end the licence fee that funds public TV and radio this year and move both broadcasters onto the state budget next year.
- Both steps would cut overall funding for the outlets, and union leaders warn the squeeze could trigger mass layoffs and shrink core services.
- Thousands of students marched in Prague Wednesday to oppose the draft, which still needs approval by the government and Parliament.
- Reporters Without Borders called the proposal chaotic and broadcaster chiefs said it lacks legal safeguards, while the government denies meddling and critics point to parallels in Hungary and Slovakia.