PRAGUE – The draft law on public service media will be discussed by the coalition council on May 25th. Following an internal agreement within the coalition, the document will then be presented to the government for discussion. This was announced by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in a video posted on social media on Sunday. The preparation process will also include a public debate with the CEOs of Czech Television and Czech Radio regarding the planned changes. According to the Prime Minister, the aim of the proposed law is to modernize the operation of public service media and establish clearer rules for their financial management and oversight. "We want to open a professional and public discussion about how public service media should function in the digital age," Babiš said in the video. The exact text of the draft has not yet been published by the government.

The discussion about the future of public service media in the Czech Republic has been ongoing for some time. The main topics include the method of funding, the scope of public service, and the composition of supervisory boards. In recent months, there have also been debates about possible adjustments to television and radio license fees, and greater transparency in the financial management of these institutions. The opposition has so far reacted cautiously to the announcement. Some opposition politicians have pointed out that changes in the area of public service media must be adopted with broad political consensus and must not jeopardize the independence of the editorial teams. They believe it will be important to monitor the specific content of the draft and the method of selecting members of the media councils.

According to the Prime Minister, the CEOs of Czech Television and Czech Radio are expected to participate in a public debate that will clarify the main objectives of the proposed legislation. The date of the debate has not yet been announced. The government, according to Babiš, expects that the draft will spark a broader professional discussion not only among politicians, but also among media experts and the public. The adoption of the new law could represent one of the most significant changes in the operation of public service media in recent years. The government will decide on the next steps after the coalition council meeting, and will then establish a schedule for the discussion of the draft in Parliament.

gnews.cz - GH