Public broadcasters' staff hold press briefing against plan to end licence fees

A group of employees from Česká televize and Český rozhlas announced a press conference at 15:00 in front of the radio headquarters on Vinohradská street, responding to the parliamentary debate on a draft law to cancel television and radio licence fees. The coalition of ANO, SPD and Motoristé succeeded in securing a priority vote for the proposal, with SPD parliamentary club leader Radim Fiala introducing the motion. Opposition deputies objected, arguing the change threatens the broadcasters' autonomy and amounts to a de-state-isation of the media.

The employee initiative, which has previously issued statements expressing concern over political control, also organized a black-clothing protest in February and a one-day warning strike on 22 June that halted all channels except children's programming. The draft currently sits in its first reading in the Chamber of Deputies.