Czech Radio Welcomes Rejection of Bill to Abolish Licence Fee

The Bill to abolish the TV and radio licence fee did not pass in the Senate during the voting last Thursday, 10th December 2009. The right-wing political party ODS did not manage to persuade the majority of the senators that Czech Radio and Czech Television should be financed directly from the state budget. Opponents of the Bill were complaining that the Bill would only lead to increase in the state expenditures. Both public media, Czech Radio as well as Czech Television, were concerned about the loss of independence once the financing system would be based on state funding. After 8 months since the submission of the proposal by the representatives of ODS, the Czech public service media received the news with relief. Both Czech Radio as well as Czech Television see the licence fee as a means to secure their impartiality, stability and their independence of political influence.