Employees of Czech public television (CT) and radio (CRo) staged a one-day warning strike on Monday, demanding the government drop plans to bring their funding under direct state control.

The strike, centered at CT's Prague headquarters, followed a large public protest the previous day. It is the latest in a series of rallies warning that the populist government of Prime Minister Andrej Babis threatens the independence of the country's respected public broadcasters.

The cabinet last week approved a long-threatened switch from a license fee system to direct financing from the state budget. Under the plan, funding would be cut to 2008 levels, potentially forcing layoffs and program cancellations.

Babis claims the new model would be fairer to poorer households and encourage efficiency. But critics argue it would allow the government to interfere in editorial matters, pointing to similar moves by hardline governments in Hungary and Slovakia.

Reporters Without Borders and other media watchdogs have slammed the proposal. During the strike, many programs started with a one-minute delay and a countdown clock. Hundreds of staff protested outside CT's headquarters, while CRo employees formed a human chain around their building, holding signs reading "We are not state media" and "Independence is no expenditure."

This is not the first time Czech public media have faced political pressure. In 2000, a similar attempt to seize control led to a journalist occupation of CT studios and mass protests, forcing the government to back down.

Source: www.aljazeera.com