“We consider it important that any changes to the funding of public media are prepared transparently, predictably and after a proper debate with all parties concerned. This is a matter of public interest and the stability of the service that Czech Radio provides to the public. After all, even previous changes to media legislation were prepared over a longer period of time and after a wider professional and political discussion. And this is the case in other countries as well,” wrote a spokeswoman for Czech Radio (ČRo). Lidija Erlebachová.
Until the exact wording of the proposal is available, according to the radio, it is not possible to responsibly comment on the specific impacts on the economy.
Speaker of the SPD and the House of Representatives, Tomio Okamura, said on Monday after the meeting of the coalition council that the coalition wants to submit a parliamentary bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, which will abolish television and radio fees for seniors, companies, dependent young people under 26 or people with disabilities. The income from fees should thus return to the state of 2024.
It is supposed to be the first phase before the complete cancellation of fees, which the government has in the program statement.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (ANO) was asked by Novinek after the government meeting in response to CRo’s statement that it is half a year after the elections: “We are fulfilling our goals, we will start discussing the transition from concessionaire fees to the budget in a few weeks, I don’t know what is the hurry. As for the parliamentary proposal, let’s wait for Tuesday’s press conference.”
CT: The memorandum on public service may not be fulfilled
Czech Television (ČT) first wants to familiarize itself with the exact wording of the parliamentary proposal so that it can clearly calculate how much its budget will be lower if it is valid. CT reported about it on the X network.
“Five-year plans have now been approved and agreed upon by the ČT Board, which were based on last year’s increase in television fees, and for which individual budgets have been prepared – for production and investment projects. Contracts have been concluded for dramatic production until 2031, rights to sports programs, etc. have been purchased. And of course, these contracts also result in obligations for us that we must settle in the event of withdrawal,” ČT said.
The television also pointed out that if these announced changes occur, then the concluded Memorandum on the fulfillment of the public service, which is directly linked to the current legislation and was concluded with validity until 2030, will not be able to be implemented.
The memorandum specifies the public service in detail. It clearly defines the parameters – how much and what percentage should be in the broadcast, how much money it can and should do, what specifically to broadcast.
