Czech Public Broadcasters Strike Over Funding Proposal

Workers at Czech Television and Czech Radio staged a one-day strike on November 3, curtailing broadcasts to oppose a government proposal to replace household fees with state-budget funding. The bill would also reduce funding for the public broadcasters by 15%, according to reports of the proposal. Czech Television’s news service showed a darkened newsroom, with presenters dressed in black reading from scripts. Czech Radio broadcast mostly music during the morning, interrupted by a brief explanation of the strike and a minute of silence. Broadcasters said staff were seeking to protect the independence and continued viability of public media. The government plan would end the monthly household fee of 205 crowns, or about 9.43, and finance the broadcasters through the state budget instead. The proposed 15% cut would leave Czech Television’s nominal budget at its 2008 level and Czech Radio’s at its 2005 level, according to reporting on the proposal. The broadcasters have described the reductions as unsustainable; potential consequences cited by critics include layoffs, fewer productions and cancelled programs. Strike committee member Jan Moláček said the funding change could give...