The conflict over Culture Minister Ota Klempíř's government proposal to abolish licence fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio continues to escalate. On Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies' media committee approved a resolution calling on Klempíř to withdraw the draft law from the interdepartmental comment procedure. The committee is chaired by František Talíř of KDU-ČSL, who pushed the item through with opposition votes. Government deputies are up in arms over the decision. Meanwhile, the trade unions of Czech Television and Czech Radio have declared a strike alert. lidovky.cz ↗
Despite the criticism, Klempíř is standing by his decision and describes the committee's decision as "childish political theatre." At the same time, the minister admitted that the specific amounts the government is planning for the budgets of both institutions could still change in the draft law. According to him, the main reason for abolishing the fees is a survey showing that people do not want to pay them. In Sunday's Czech Television debate, Klempíř stressed that the government does not want to claim that the media are not functioning, but wants to "simplify people's lives by relieving them of the media tax." He describes the abolition of the fees as a coalition concession to Motoristé (Motorists). zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗
Media analysts and the opposition continue their criticism. Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Patrik Nacher (ANO) warns that while licence fees alone do not guarantee independence, abolishing them and shifting financing to the state budget carries risks. Nacher argues that the fees are no longer "fees, but another tax." Martin Baxa (ODS) warns against the so-called Hungarian path and state control of the media. Meanwhile, the Association of Private Broadcasters (APSV) welcomes the fact that the proposal has opened a public debate about the role of public-service media. idnes.cz ↗
The Chamber's oversight committee supports strengthening controls. It approved a constitutional amendment giving the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) the power to audit the finances of Czech Television and Czech Radio. The governing coalition now wants to convene an extraordinary session for the third reading of the government proposal concerning public and state budgets. The opposition is threatening to block it. irozhlas.cz ↗
Meanwhile, Czech Television continues purchasing licences. In March it bought the broadcasting rights for further seasons of the dance competition StarDance and the show Peče celá země (The Whole Country Bakes). According to the website Mediář, Kavčí hory paid between 14 and 15 million crowns for the two formats combined. Presenter and producer Tereza Kostková defends StarDance, saying people have been watching it for twenty years and it belongs on television. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is preparing to get involved in the discussions and is seeking a solution through a working group. denik.cz ↗
Meanwhile, a court has upheld the ban on broadcasting the film Sbormistr (The Choirmaster) by director Ondřej Provazník. The Prague Municipal Court of Appeal upheld the ban on showing the film, which, according to the lawsuit, closely resembles the story of a real victim. aktuality.sk ↗
New law on financing Czech Television and Czech Radio changes course, media committee calls on Klempíř to withdraw the proposal
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (15)
Nacher: Česká televize je na hraně kodexu. Baxa varuje před maďarskou cestou
idnes.cz
| 10:00 29.04.
Nacher vs. Baxa: Tvrdý střet o způsob financování České televize, ale i shoda na nutnosti dohledu NKÚ
info.cz
| 15:30 30.04.
Podle Nachera už poplatky nejsou poplatky, ale další daň. Spor o média se vyostřuje
forum24.cz
| 11:00 29.04.
Nepředkládej paskvily a nebude divadlo. Hlavatý cupuje Klempíře, Baxa mluví o ostudě, Talíř jásá
forum24.cz
| 05:00 29.04.
Stáhněte návrh zákona o médiích veřejné služby, vyzývá ministra kultury mediální výbor sněmovny
forum24.cz
| 16:37 28.04.
Opozice na výboru prosadila, aby Klempíř stáhl návrh o ČT. Vládní poslanci zuří
seznamzpravy.cz
| 16:35 28.04.
„Lidi to tak chtějí.“ Klempíř hájil připravovaný zákon, zrušení poplatků je prý koaliční ústupek Motoristů
forum24.cz
| 13:50 26.04.
Mediální výbor vyzve ke stažení zákona. Dětinské politické divadlo, míní Klempíř
lidovky.cz
| 22:16 28.04.
Výbor hlasy opozice vyzval Klempíře, ať stáhne zákon o médiích
zpravy.aktualne.cz
| 20:29 28.04.
Babiš dál počítá s tím, že s Macinkou probere Turkovy výroky o parazitech
seznamzpravy.cz
| 15:24 26.04.
Kolik dostanou televize a rozhlas peněz? Klempíř připustil změny
seznamzpravy.cz
| 13:51 26.04.
V zákoně o ČT a ČRo se mohou změnit i částky, s nimž pro ně počítá, řekl Klempíř
zpravy.aktualne.cz
| 13:37 26.04.
Rozpočet pro ČT a ČRo může oproti návrhu nového financování ještě vzrůst, řekl Klempíř
ct24.ceskatelevize.cz
| 13:35 26.04.
Museli jsme ustoupit. Klempíř hájí obrat Motoristů ve financování veřejnoprávních médií
novinky.cz
| 12:56 26.04.
Neřekl jsem, že ČT a ČRo nefungují, chceme ale lidem zrušit daň, prohlásil Klempíř
lidovky.cz
| 12:44 26.04.
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