Czech public broadcasters stage warning strike over government plan to change funding

PRAGUE — Journalists and other state media employees dressed in black and formed a human chain around Czech public radio headquarters in Prague on Monday, part of a larger protest against a government plan to overhaul the way the country's public broadcasters are funded.

Critics fear that media independence is being threatened by the plan by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his government to change the funding of the state broadcasters, Czech Television and Czech Radio.

According to the plan, which was approved by the government last week, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget starting next year, instead of from fees paid by individuals, households and businesses.

Critics say the change would give the three-party coalition government power to influence the broadcasters. They point to such actions taken in past years by populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico, and in Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Under the plan, the broadcasters would also end up with about 15% less money next year. The directors of public radio and television said that would force them to lay off hundreds of staffers, limit production and cancel programs.

The black-clad staffers formed a line around the radio headquarters to symbolically indicate that they were protecting it. Some of the programs were delayed by a minute while online and social media services were limited during the 24-hour protest.

Organizers said they are preparing other steps but did not elaborate.