Several international industry organizations, led by the EBU, have backed Czech public media amid concern over proposed changes to their funding.
The signatories said the planned changes risk destabilizing public broadcasters and undermining their independence. They also said stable, independent funding was essential for public media to fulfill their mission.
A coalition led by Andrej Babiš has said it wants to gradually move away from the radio and television license fee system and shift public broadcasting funding to the state budget.
As a first step, the coalition plans from July to exempt people over 75, people with disabilities and several thousand companies from paying the license fee.
Public broadcasters said the move would cost them more than they gained from last year’s fee increase, which was the first in 17 years for television and the first in 20 years for radio.
The industry organizations said they were concerned by the direction of the debate over the future of public media in the Czech Republic.
The EBU also said it was ready to take part in any future consultations.
(jh)
Source: Polish Radio