Thousands protest in Prague as government advances public media funding overhaul

PRAGUE (AP) — Czechs rallied in big numbers in Prague on Sunday to renew protests against a plan by the government led by billionaire Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that many consider dangerous for their independence.

The crowd of thousands was bigger than the picturesque Old Town Square could take with many filling the nearby streets. The ruling coalition angered the protesters by unexpectedly moving ahead with the plan in the lower house of Parliament two days ago.

Coalition lawmakers hastily opened the issue and limited time for the opposition to take part in the debate before taking a vote to give the draft a green light in the first of three parliamentary readings at 4:36 a.m.

“We've had enough,” “This must not be allowed to pass” and “4:36,” the demonstrators chanted.

“You’ve gone too far, we won’t let this country be destroyed,” Mikuláš Minář, a main organizer from the Million Moments for Democracy group said. “It is mafia syndicates or the Soviet Politburo who make decisions at 4:36."

The protesters demanded a withdrawal of the draft and called on Babiš to enable a thorough public debate on the issue.

According to the plan, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget, and not from regular fees from individuals, households or businesses. The media would receive about 15% less money than they do now.

Critics say that change would give the coalition a means to take control of the media following the examples of populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and in Hungary before former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was ousted from power in April.

Babiš and his allies have a record of attacks against the public and other mainstream media.

The public media's staffers announced they would go on strike on Nov 3. They are backed by labor unions, rectors of universities, churches, international media organizations and many others.

The protesters vowed to organize a rally at Prague's Letná park on Nov. 15, two days before the anniversary of the 1989 anti-Communist Velvet Revolution that ended more than 40 years of the totalitarian rule.

Babiš formed a governing coalition last year with two small political groups whose agenda includes reducing support for Ukraine and rejecting some key European Union policies.

People attend a protest entitled "Hands Off the Media!" staged by Million Moments for Democracy group, on the Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Ondrej Deml/CTK via AP)

People attend a protest entitled "Hands Off the Media!" staged by Million Moments for Democracy group, on the Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Ondrej Deml/CTK via AP)

Baylor fired coach Dave Aranda on Sunday after more than six seasons and promoted defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman as interim head coach for the rest of the season.

Aranda's dismissal came a day after Baylor lost to Kansas 25-24 to fall to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks earned their first win over Baylor since 2007, ending a 14-game losing skid to the Bears when Blake Herold blocked a field-goal attempt in the final minute.

Aranda took over the Baylor program in 2020 after serving as defensive coordinator on LSU's undefeated 2019 national championship team.

He led the Bears to the Big 12 championship and a Sugar Bowl victory in 2021, but he couldn't maintain that success. Baylor has just one winning season since then, and Aranda leaves with a 40-40 record.

Aranda had been under pressure to turn things around in his seventh season. Part of that effort was hiring Klanderman from Kansas State to take over the defensive play-calling. The Bears also signed quarterback DJ Lagway, the Florida transfer from Texas whose dad, Derek Lagway, was a Baylor running back a quarter-century ago.

Not long after the Big 12 championship, Aranda had his contract extended through 2029. According to multiple reports, his buyout is $12 million. Baylor is a private school that isn't required to release contract details.

Aranda was under fire during the season last year, when former athletic director Mack Rhoades resigned for personal reasons. At the time, university president Linda Livingstone said the school was keeping Aranda in 2026, while saying that a review of the football program had been underway and that she understood the decision to keep him would "generate strong opinions.”

Doug McNamee, Rhoades' replacement, called the decision to fire Aranda a “difficult moment.”

"Anyone who knows Dave Aranda understands what a genuine and honorable person he is and how much he deeply cares for his players, staff and this university,” McNamee said. “He is a gifted coach and a brilliant football mind whose leadership brought some of our best Baylor football memories. While this is a difficult moment, we believe a change in leadership is necessary at this time for our program."

Baylor plays at UCF, which on Saturday knocked off then-No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime, on Friday.

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FILE - Baylor head coach Dave Aranda walks on the field during a timeout during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Oct. 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson, File)