On 27 October 2026 the children's ombudsman Martin Beneš warned deputies that the change in funding of Czech Television and Czech Radio may endanger programming for children.
On 27 October 2026 the children's ombudsman Martin Beneš again sent deputies his comments on the public service media act. In them he pointed out that without stable funding sufficient programming for children and young people cannot be ensured.[1]
Content of the comments
Beneš sent the comments to the chairs of the parliamentary groups and of the lead committee for media and culture. He had originally submitted them in the spring on an earlier draft, which was subsequently withdrawn, and they were therefore not addressed. In his view they are partly still relevant even though the draft now under discussion differs.[1] According to Beneš, programmes for children and young people serve an educational function in addition to an informative one and are important for disadvantaged children.[1][2] According to Novinky.cz, he also pointed out that the draft does not sufficiently clarify the mechanism of the state contribution, especially its timing and the guarantees that funding will be predictable.[2]
Background
The Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic supported in first reading the government bill that changes the funding of Czech Television and Czech Radio from licence fees to a contribution from the state budget. The vote took place overnight into 24 October 2026. The opposition spoke against the bill.[1] It was pushed through by the government majority of ANO, SPD and Motoristé sobě.[2] Under the amendment, Czech Television is to receive 5.74 billion CZK from the budget next year, about a billion less than it plans to collect from fees this year. Czech Radio is to receive 2.065 billion CZK, roughly 400 million less.[1]
Chronology
- — The children's ombudsman wrote to MPs that the change in the funding of Czech Television and Czech Radio may endanger programming for children in public service media, and urged them to consider the impact on children. ČTK / České noviny Novinky.cz
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 27 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 27 October 2026