English translation of the original Czech open letter. The Czech text is the authoritative version. Read the Czech original
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing to you as students of Prague University of Economics and Business who care about the responsible management of public funds as well as the independence of the media.
Czech public debt is approaching CZK 3.9 trillion. In such a situation, we consider it important to say openly that abolishing television and radio licence fees will not, in itself, save citizens any money. Czech Television and Czech Radio will continue to operate; their running costs, however, will instead be paid from other public revenues. If the state covers these expenses by taking on further debt, we will also pay for them through interest. If it covers them in another way, it is appropriate to explain from which sources and at the expense of which other priorities. A change in the method of funding is not, in itself, a saving.
Serious reservations about the proposal have also been raised by the Ministry of Finance. In its comments from May 2026, it called for the proposal to be reworked and pointed out, among other things, the lack of financial analyses, insufficient justification of the amount of the contributions in question, and uncertainties about how they would be provided. Although this is a fundamental change to the funding of two public institutions, its economic impacts were not sufficiently explained in the documents submitted.
The government cites foreign examples, such as Denmark or Finland. These countries do indeed use other funding models. However, comparing sources of revenue alone is not enough. Also decisive are the institutional environment, legal guarantees of independence and the way in which changes are prepared. Foreign experience therefore cannot be used as a simple justification for the change without a thorough assessment of Czech conditions.
We find it particularly worrying that the debate on changing the funding is intertwined with politicians’ statements about the very existence and content of public service media. On 27 October, the leader of the SPD, Tomio Okamura, stated: “If anyone proposes abolishing Czech Television and Czech Radio, I will be in favour.” Back in June, SPD MP Josef Nerušil spoke of the need to strengthen oversight mechanisms so that “not only the financial level, but also the content” would be scrutinised. Although Nerušil subsequently clarified that this does not mean direct interference in programme-making, we consider it important to clearly reject the idea that the question of funding can be separated from the protection of editorial independence. Public scrutiny of financial management is legitimate. Political pressure on broadcast content, however, has no place in independent media. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has, moreover, also drawn attention to the risks associated with the proposed change and the rushed legislative process.
As students of VŠE, we therefore call on the government to ensure a thorough assessment of the economic impacts, an open expert and public debate and, above all, stable funding that will protect the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio.
The issue goes far beyond the question of funding public service media and gives grounds for doubt as to whether these media will be able to do their work independently and fulfil their role as an independent pillar of democracy and of holding power to account.
Respectfully,
Students of Prague University of Economics and Business
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