Czech Public Media Employees Stage One-Day Strike Over Funding

Czech public media employees staged a one-day warning strike on June 22, 2026, centered on Czech Television headquarters in Prague, Al Jazeera reported. The action followed a large public protest at the same location the day before. The cabinet approved a switch from a licence fee system to direct financing from the state budget last week.

Under the plan, funding for the outlets would be cut to 2008 levels, leaving the broadcasters with about 15 percent less money next year. Directors of public radio and television stated that the funding cut would force them to fire hundreds of employees and cancel programmes.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis promised to cancel the licence fees ahead of taking office last December and stated the new model would be fairer to poorer households while encouraging efficiency.

Babis stated his government has no intention of interfering with the independence of the outlets. Several programmes on June 22 began with a minute’s delay and a countdown clock on the screen. Hundreds of CT staff protested outside the television company’s headquarters in a southern suburb of Prague.

CRo staff formed a human chain around the radio station’s building in central Prague. ” In 2000, journalists occupied CT studios and put out their own broadcasts during protests against a bid to seize political control, and large street protests helped force the government at the time to step back and strengthen CT independence.