Czech Government Proposes Voluntary TV and Radio Fees Without State Budget
People in the Czech Republic could soon be allowed to decide whether they want to pay television and radio licence fees under a new funding model being prepared by the government. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the Finance Ministry is working on a system that would make contributions to Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) voluntary while ensuring the two public broadcasters receive a guaranteed level of funding. The proposal is expected to be discussed by the coalition council on Monday. For now, however, the existing system will remain in place. Although the government had initially hoped to introduce changes at the beginning of 2027, Babiš said the legislative timetable makes that unlikely. Under parliamentary rules, the bill requires a 60-day review period before moving forward. That means its second reading would fall during the Christmas period, delaying further debate until at least January 2027. The proposed changes have already sparked political and public opposition. On October 24, the Chamber of Deputies approved in its first reading a proposal to abolish television and radio licence fees. The governing coalition, made up of ANO, SPD and the Motorists party, added the measure to its priority legislative agenda. The vote took... The post Czech Government Proposes Voluntary TV and Radio Fees Without State Budget appeared first on Prague Morning .