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Czech public media employees strike against funding changes in Prague

Prague, Czechia · Nov 3, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Nov 3.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Employees are protesting a government plan to replace broadcast fees with state budget funding, fearing it threatens editorial independence.
What they want
Demonstrators want the government to withdraw the proposed legislation on the funding overhaul.
What changed
Nov 3: Public media employees held an unprecedented one-day strike with limited programming and broadcasts interrupted by statements.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Withdraw the proposed legislation on the funding overhaul

Organised by: Czech Television, Czech Radio, European Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders

What authorities say

No official government response to the strike was reported in the sources.

The full story

Employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio launched an unprecedented one-day strike in Prague to protest a government funding overhaul led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Under the proposed legislation, public radio and television would be financed directly through the state budget rather than regular fees, resulting in roughly 15% less funding and raising concerns about editorial independence and potential political control. During the strike, television broadcasts were limited to archives and short news bulletins, while radio broadcasted mostly music with brief explanatory statements and a moment of silence. The job action was backed by labor unions, university deans, churches, international press freedom groups, athletes, and students who planned solidarity marches.

Timeline

  1. Czech public media workers initiated a one-day strike against government funding changes.12

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