PRAGUE, Oct 7 — Public broadcaster Czech TV said yesterday it would skip next year’s Eurovision Song Contest over spending cuts forced by a planned switch to financing from the state budget.

The nationalist government of billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis wants to switch from licence fees paid by viewers to direct government financing, to make Czech TV and public counterpart Czech Radio broadcaster save money.

Critics, including the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press watchdog, say the move jeopardises the independence of public media, and Czech TV and Czech Radio staged a token strike over the plan in June.

“We won’t see the Czech flag on the stage next year,” Czech TV said on X, adding that it was hoping to return to the bling bonanza at some point.

“We know Eurovision means a lot for all of us. So we thank all Czech performers and above all you, fans, for each vote, each commentary, each cheer, and for being there,” it added.

The Czech decision is another financial blow to the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the world’s biggest live televised music event.

Ireland and Spain are expected to boycott Eurovision 2027 over the participation of Israel, with Irish broadcaster RTE citing “the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there”.

Five European countries — the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain — all snubbed this year’s showpiece, querying why Israel was allowed to participate despite its war on Palestinians in Gaza, while Russia had been suspended shortly after its invasion of Ukraine.

Cuts 

This year’s final on Czech TV attracted 287,000 viewers — a viewing share of 13.37 per cent.

No Czech performer has ever won Eurovision.

This year, Czech singer Daniel Zizka finished 16th with a song called Crossroads.

Babis’s critics have accused him of trying to curb the independence of public media, as did Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and former Hungarian premier Viktor Orban.

The prime minister says the government coalition — comprising his catch-all ANO party, a far-right party and a right-wing one — is merely fulfilling its pledge to voters and trying to make Czech TV and Czech Radio cut costs.

Both outlets have already announced staff cuts and programme adjustments.

The Czech parliament, in which Babis’s coalition holds a majority, has yet to vote on the financing overhaul. — AFP