Publishers affiliated with the Association for Internet Development and the Publishers’ Union are urging the government to withdraw the proposed significant media amendment from the legislative process. They argue that the amendments, which affect laws related to Czech Television, Czech Radio, and radio and television fees, are disproportionate and disrupt the balance between commercial and public service news publishers.

The publishers are calling for an expert discussion to precede any further action on the proposed amendment, similar to what major commercial broadcasters have advocated.

In their statement, the publishers assert that the current form of the proposed amendment is entirely disproportionate and has not been discussed with the affected entities. They believe that it would significantly disrupt the stability of the entire media sector.

One of the concerns raised by the publishers is that the proposed regulation lacks provisions addressing market imbalance. They emphasize that the principle of financing public service media remains unchanged, and the volume of advertising in public service media would not exceed current levels.

In the amendment presented by the Ministry of Culture on behalf of the government coalition, several key changes are proposed. These include increasing the fee for Czech Television from 135 to 160 crowns, effective from the beginning of 2025, and raising the monthly radio fee by ten crowns to 55 crowns. The amendment also expands the group of obligated payers. Currently, the proposal is undergoing an interdepartmental commenting procedure.

The call from publishers for a withdrawal of the media amendment reflects their concerns about the potential impact of these changes on the media landscape in the Czech Republic. It highlights the need for a thorough and balanced discussion to ensure that any amendments take into account the interests and perspectives of all stakeholders in the media industry.

Article by Prague Forum