Czech TV drops Eurovision broadcast over budget cuts

The Czech Republic is severing its ties with Eurovision: after announcing it would not compete in the 2027 contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, Czech public broadcaster ČT has now confirmed it will not broadcast the competition next year either. The reason is straightforward: the cost of Eurovision broadcast rights no longer fits the budget.

The decision comes against the backdrop of a severe financial crisis at ČT. According to reports from Prague, planned changes to the public broadcaster's funding model are expected to slash its budget significantly, casting doubt on its ability to finance large-scale projects and participation in international events.

The cuts behind the decision

The financial crisis at Czech public television is not new. In recent months, ČT has warned that the government's plan to overhaul public broadcasting funding could strip enormous sums from the network's budget. According to ČT's own figures, under the scenario presented by the government, the 2027 budget could shrink by approximately 1.3 billion koruna compared to the original plan.

The total hit to next year's budget could reach as much as 1.75 billion koruna, the network has cautioned. ČT deputy director Milan Friedrich stated previously that a cut of just one billion koruna could result in the layoffs of between 300 and 500 employees, alongside the cancellation or scaling back of productions and projects already in the pipeline.

In this economic reality, the cost of Eurovision broadcast rights is seen as an expendable burden. The decision not to air the contest joins the earlier decision not to compete, creating an almost complete disconnect between the Czech Republic and the international event.

Czech viewers not entirely shut out

Czech viewers will still be able to follow Eurovision. They can watch the contest through Eurovision's official YouTube stream and even vote as part of the Rest of the World category, which is designated for countries not officially participating in the competition.

Still, from the perspective of local public broadcasting, this represents a total absence: No journalistic coverage, no local commentary, and no official Czech presence at the contest. The move places the Czech Republic in a line of countries that have distanced themselves from Eurovision in recent years, for political or economic reasons.

Last year, five major countries withdrew from the Eurovision contest following Israel's participation, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Iceland, and Slovenia. The Netherlands has already announced its return to this year's competition, but Ireland continues its political boycott.

In the Czech case, the absence is further evidence of the budget crisis afflicting public broadcasters across Europe.