Czech public media staff strike over funding overhaul

Thousands of public media employees in the Czech Republic began a 24-hour strike on Monday, June 22, escalating a months-long confrontation with the government over a controversial plan to change how public broadcasters are funded. The industrial action by staff at Czech Television and Czech Radio followed a large public protest in Prague the previous day.

The government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, approved legislation last week to scrap the long-standing license fee system. Starting next year, Czech Television and Czech Radio would instead be financed through an annual allocation from the state budget. Officials argue the change responds to public dissatisfaction with the mandatory fees.

Critics, including media executives and civil society groups, warn the move threatens the broadcasters' independence and will result in severe financial cuts. They say the new funding model would return budgets to 2008 levels, amounting to a reduction of approximately 15 percent compared to current financing. Executives have stated this would force hundreds of job losses and significant cuts to programming.

"The reforms have been prepared without consultation and without guarantees for...