Czechia’s media funding reform threatens ČT’s budget and its participation in international projects. Management warns of the consequences, although no official withdrawal decision has been made.
The heated political debates surrounding the new media law in Czechia are igniting a wave of rumors and concerns ahead of Eurovision 2027, which is set to be held in neighboring Bulgaria. Changing the funding model of the Czech television network (ČT) could lead to unprecedented cuts, forcing executives to reconsider their involvement in expensive international events despite the relative successes recorded in recent years, similar to the trend we reported last month regarding the review of Luxembourg’s continued participation.
The financial crisis at the ČT network:
The Czech government is advancing a law that partially decouples the budget from the traditional radio and television fee, a move that is sparking widespread opposition, with approximately 300 comments and reservations already submitted regarding the current draft.
The Deputy Director of Czech Television, Milan Fridrich, issued a concerning statement, warning that the new law could lead to a massive financial loss of between 40 and 60 million euros annually. According to the station’s management, such a dramatic drop in revenue would force them to lay off between 300 and 500 employees, cut back on original productions, and forego major television projects.
At the same time, the network’s spokesperson department emphasizes that as of this moment, no final decision has been made, stating: “The decision regarding Czechia’s participation in Eurovision 2027 has not yet been made, and there is currently no official information indicating a withdrawal from the contest.“
The situation ahead of Eurovision 2027:
While Czechia and Luxembourg are facing uncertainty, the host country, Bulgaria, is already actively preparing to host the contest, following DARA‘s victory with the song “Bangaranga“. Four Bulgarian cities have already submitted official bids to host: Sofia, Burgas, Plovdiv, and Varna. In addition, North Macedonia has already announced its official return, and Hungary’s new prime minister announced that the country will re-examine the possibility of returning to the contest. Furthermore, Bulgaria’s victory in Eurovision 2026, along with numerous political changes, opens the door for many Eastern European countries to return to the competition. As of now, 6 countries have already officially confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2027:
Czechia at Eurovision 2026
“Crossroads” is the song that has been performed by the singer Daniel Žižka, which represent Czechia as song number 5 in the second semi-final on May 14th, in Vienna, Austria. The song was co-written by the singer himself together with Viliam Béreš. This marks the first entry for both creators in the competition. The song is performed entirely in English. finishing 16th place in the finale with 113 points/
Currently, Czechia is ranked 13th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
Eurovision 2026: This was the 14th participation of Czechia in Eurovision. Czechia joined the competition in 2007 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2018 when singer Mikoláš Josef reached sixth place with the song “Lie To Me”.
