TV and radio rates will go up. We’ll also pay for cellphones.

Franchise fees will rise from next year. The proposal, which has the support of the government and will now go to delegates, takes this into account.

The fee for Czech Television will increase to 150 crowns per month (15 crowns more than before), and the fee for Czech Radio will increase to 55 crowns per month (10 crowns more).

Despite inflation and wage growth, broadcasting fees have not increased since 2005 and television fees have not increased since 2008.

The government now wants fees to increase regularly if inflation totals more than six percent since the last adjustment.

Anyone who owns a device capable of playing media content, a so-called smart device such as a mobile phone, tablet or computer with an internet connection, will now also have to pay. Pay for a TV or radio receiver Under existing rules, each household is charged just one fee, regardless of the number of devices it has.

Existing law defines a television or radio receiver as “a device technically capable of individually selecting the reproduction of television or radio broadcasts, provided that the television or radio broadcasts are disseminated by means of terrestrial radio broadcasting equipment using radio frequencies reserved for the dissemination and transmission of television or radio broadcasts, satellite, or cable systems.”

Franchise Fee For example, if a family only uses a TV to watch platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon prime, HBO, etc., then they already have to pay. What matters is that the device can receive TV signals. For radio, the principle is the same, you only pay for the car radio or radio alarm clock. After all, the TV is also considered a radio receiver.

However, what is and is not a television or radio receiver has long been a bone of contention among critics of the charges, the public media and experts. Currently, for example, no fees are payable through a computer monitor, laptop (without a TV tuner) or mobile phone. However, since the law does not take into account the rapid development of technology, technologies such as IPTV, OTT TV, i.e. television services transmitted via the Internet and viewable on devices such as mobile phones, tablets and computers, remain in a grey area.

Data on payers who are not registered in public media are still obtained from electricity suppliers. According to the law, every electricity consumer connected to the distribution system is in principle obliged to pay – if they do not inform Czech Radio or Czech Television to the contrary in the form of a written sworn statement after a written request (within 30 days from the date of service of the request).

After the amendments are finally approved, we will also see changes. Connection providers should also report their customers, i.e. users of internet connections. There are about four times as many energy suppliers in the Czech Republic.

The plan has received a lot of criticism, mainly from the operators. While energy is usually programmed for one person in a household, this is not necessarily the case for internet connections. The Mobile Network Operators Association, for example, has substantial reservations. It also points to the huge bureaucratic burden, with TV and radio arguing with people about when internet connections are allowed to play media content and when they serve other purposes (for example, a SIM card in an alarm or a robot lawn mower).

The fee structure for entrepreneurs will also change.

Under current regulations, a self-employed natural person (Osvč) must pay a TV or radio fee for each receiver that he or she uses for business or in connection with his or her business. This is usually a TV or radio in a hair salon or waiting room. A legal entity (company) must pay a TV fee for each TV receiver. A natural or legal person who manufactures, repairs or sells TV receivers as part of their business pays a fee for one receiver (if they have several establishments, one fee for each establishment).

From 2025, entrepreneurs and companies will have to pay a concessional fee based on the number of employees in the main employment relationship. This should bring relief to the smallest ones, who will be exempt from paying the fee. Specifically, the fee will be graded as follows:

• With 25 to 49 employees, total costs will be five times those for TV and radio.
• The number of employees is ten times that of 50 to 99 people,
• The number of employees is 20 times that of 100 to 199 people,
• The number of employees is 30 times that of 200 to 249 people,
• The number of employees increased from 250 to 499, which is 70 times.
• With over 500 employees, the amount was a hundred times what TV and radio cost.

The car rental company will pay for the radio fee for each vehicle.

At the same time, the amendments will introduce further restrictions on advertising on these media. Czech Television announced that the time of sponsored programs and shows will be limited: a maximum of 260 hours per year on all channels. A quarter of the funds raised from sponsored messages will be transferred to the State Cultural Fund to support cultural projects. Both Czech Television and Czech Radio are prohibited from placing commercial messages (ads) on their websites and applications.

Pavla Adamkova

At Peníze.cz he mainly writes about consumer topics. She started working at Hospodářské noviny in 2006 and a year later joined the economic editorial team of Aktuálně.cz, where she took a break for ten years, the last year of which she also … Other articles by the author.

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