Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters
The plan would cut public media funding by 15% and shift financing to the state budget, raising fears of political interference.
- On Sunday, thousands of Czechs marched through Prague to protest a government plan led by Prime Minister Andrej Babia that would overhaul public media funding, which critics argue threatens the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio.
- Prime Minister Andrej Babia's government, led by the populist ANO party, agreed last week to end licence fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio, replacing them with state budget financing starting next year.
- Czech Television's chief warned the cuts could mean forced layoffs of about 300 to 500 of the station's 2,900 staff, as the plan provides about 15% less money than this year.
- Mikulas Minar of the Million Moments group told the crowd, "Media does not belong to politics," while marchers carried banners reading "Hands off public media" ahead of a planned warning strike on Monday.
- Critics argue the changes mirror media control tactics used by populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orb, raising concerns about potential political interference.
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55 Articles
Thousands rally in Prague over fears for public media independence
People take part in a protest in support of public service media outside Czech Television headquarters in Prague. (EPA Images pic) PRAGUE: Several thousand people gathered outside the headquarters of public broadcaster Czech Television (CT) in Prague on Sunday for a solidarity rally, the CTK news agency and Czech media reported, according to the German Press Agency (dpa). The demonstrators were protesting against government plans that they fear …
In the Czech Republic, thousands of people have protested against the government's planned abolition of broadcasting fees.
Czechia: Thousands march in support of public media funding
Prime Minister Andrej Babis' government has been accused of seeking to take control over Czech public media. The plan would leave broadcasters with a 15% funding cut and no guarantees of continued future funding.
Thousands of people are protesting in Prague against government savings plans for public broadcasting. Employees have already announced strikes.
Thousands of Czechs rally against government plan to overhaul funding of public broadcasters
According to the plan approved by the government, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget starting next year, and not from fees paid by individuals, households and businesses
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Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left
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