New Rules for Czech TV and Radio Fees

5/4/2025

1. Make sure you know this vocabulary.

to be in force = platit (být v platnosti)
household = domácnost
to increase = zvýšit (se)
employee = zaměstnanec
deaf = hluchý

to own = vlastnit
income = příjem
therefore = proto; tudíž
to claim = tvrdit
no longer = již ne; už ne

2. Practice the vocabulary here.
3. Listen and click the words that you hear in the listening. They are in chronological order.
Interactive Table
Not in the listening In the listening
paying
have been
household
computer
mustn't
must
decreased
per month
total
employers
employ
blind
incomes
by
listen
have to pay
had to pay
own
already
two times
twice
no longer
government
4. Read the questions in the quiz. Then listen and choose correct answers.
Single Choice Quiz
Questions:
1. When did the new rules for TV and radio fees begin?


2. Which devices now require households to pay the fee?


3. How much is the monthly TV fee?


4. How much is the radio fee per month?


5. What is the total yearly fee for both TV and radio?


6. Who must pay based on the number of employees?


7. Who does not have to pay the fees?


8. By when must the fees be paid each month?


9. Why are some people unhappy with the new rules?


10. What do some critics say about Czech Television and Czech Radio?


Check Show Correct Answers Restart
5. Read the text and drag missing words into the gaps. Then listen and correct the words.
Fill-in Exercise
radio
propaganda
paying
employ
still
employees
already
claim
media
criticize
fees
force
deaf
increased
total
incomes
no longer
New Rules for TV and Radio Fees
New rules for
for Czech Television and Czech Radio have been in
since the first of May this year. Now, every household that has a TV,
, computer, mobile phone, or tablet must pay these
. The fees have also
. For TV, it is now 150 crowns per month, and for radio, 55 crowns per month. This makes a
of 205 crowns per month, or 2,460 crowns per year. Companies with more than 25
will pay according to the number of people they
. Some people do not have to pay the fees—for example, people who are blind or
, or households with very low
. Fees must be paid by the 15th of each month. People who
these changes say that many of them do not watch or listen to the media, but they
have to pay the fees because they own a mobile phone or tablet. Businesses will also have to pay for employees who
pay for their own households. Czech state
will therefore be paid twice. Some critics
that Czech Television and Czech Radio
function as independent media, but rather as instruments of government
.

6. Read the text and type in missing words. Then listen and correct the words.
Fill-in Exercise
New Rules for TV and Radio Fees
New rules for paying for Czech Television and Czech Radio have been in force the first of May this year. Now, every household that has a TV, radio, computer, mobile phone, or must pay these fees. The fees have also . For TV, it is now 150 crowns per , and for radio, 55 crowns per month. This a total of 205 crowns per month, or 2,460 crowns per year. Companies with more than 25 employees will pay to the number of people they employ. Some people do not have to pay the fees—for , people who are blind or deaf, or households with very low incomes. Fees must be paid by the 15th of month. People who criticize these changes say that of them do not watch or listen to the media, but they still have to pay the fees because they a mobile phone or tablet. Businesses will also to pay for employees who already pay for their own households. Czech media will therefore be paid twice. Some critics that Czech Television and Czech Radio no longer function as independent media, but rather as instruments of propaganda.

Transcript
New Rules for TV and Radio Fees

New rules for paying for Czech Television and Czech Radio have been in force since the first of May this year. Now, every household that has a TV, radio, computer, mobile phone, or tablet must pay these fees. The fees have also increased. For TV, it is now 150 crowns per month, and for radio, 55 crowns per month. This makes a total of 205 crowns per month, or 2,460 crowns per year. Companies with more than 25 employees will pay according to the number of people they employ. Some people do not have to pay the fees—for example, people who are blind or deaf, or households with very low incomes. Fees must be paid by the 15th of each month. People who criticize these changes say that many of them do not watch or listen to the media, but they still have to pay the fees because they own a mobile phone or tablet. Businesses will also have to pay for employees who already pay for their own households. Czech state media will therefore be paid twice. Some critics claim that Czech Television and Czech Radio no longer function as independent media, but rather as instruments of government propaganda.

Translation
Nová pravidla pro televizní a rozhlasové poplatky

Od prvního května letošního roku platí nová pravidla pro placení poplatků za Českou televizi a Český rozhlas. Nově musí tyto poplatky platit každá domácnost, která má televizi, rádio, počítač, mobilní telefon nebo tablet. Poplatky se také zvýšily. Za televizi je to nyní 150 korun měsíčně a za rozhlas 55 korun měsíčně. Celkem to dělá 205 korun měsíčně, tedy 2460 korun ročně. Firmy s více než 25 zaměstnanci budou platit podle počtu zaměstnanců. Někteří lidé poplatky platit nemusí - například nevidomí či neslyšící nebo domácnosti s velmi nízkými příjmy. Poplatky musí být zaplaceny do 15. dne v měsíci. Lidé, kteří tyto změny kritizují, tvrdí, že mnozí z nich média nesledují ani neposlouchají, ale přesto musí poplatky platit, protože vlastní mobilní telefon nebo tablet. Podniky budou muset platit i za zaměstnance, kteří již platí za své domácnosti. Česká státní média tak budou platit dvakrát. Někteří kritici tvrdí, že Česká televize a Český rozhlas už nefungují jako nezávislá média, ale spíše jako nástroje vládní propagandy.

Sources