The Czech government has amended a law in order to increase the cost of receiver licence fees and expanding their eligibility.
According to the public broadcaster Ceska Televize (CT), they will be increased from CZK135 (€5.59) to CZK160 a month per household.
Commenting on the development, CT’s outgoing CEO Petr Dvorak said: “We unequivocally welcome the government’s proposal and believe that it will find support in the legislative process. It is the result of our long-term communication with politicians and the public and the long-term presentation of arguments about the unsustainability of the public service when its financing is not resolved.
“At the end of September, I am leaving the post of director of CT after 12 years. I’m sorry, TV was my passion. But I’m proud to hand it over in the best condition it’s ever been in. And on top of that, with the bonus that the financing has just been resolved, something I’ve been trying to do for years. I believe that thanks to this, it will be possible not only to maintain the existing breadth of public service, but also to straighten out the salary debt that CT has towards its employees and creators”.
CT notes that the receiver licence fee has not changed in 15 years and as a result of inflation is now in reality worth CZK72 a month. The increase will provide the public broadcaster with an additional CZK1.4 billion a year.
Fees will now be paid by all households that have electronic devices that enable the reception of TV broadcasts. At the same time, the method of payment for legal entities is changing and companies will now pay according to the number of employees, and those with up to five employees and self-employed people will be exempt from payment.
