This document provides an overview of the transformation and development of radio in the Czech Republic since the Velvet Revolution in 1989. It summarizes how the first independent radio stations emerged in 1990, the transition of the state broadcaster to independence, and the establishment of Czech Radio as an independent public broadcaster through the Radio Act of 1991. It also outlines Czech Radio's current structure and operations, including its nationwide and digital channels, governance, funding sources, and use of new technologies and platforms.

1. How to create a modern radio
Filip Rozanek
Strategic Development Analyst
Department of New Media

2. Velvet Revolution in November 1989
• New director
appointed 16 days
after revolution
• On 11th Dec radio
supported the general
strike with 15 minutes
Demonstration in front of radio building 20/11/1989
of silence
(Czech News Agency file photo)

3. 1990: First independent radio station
• Introduced 4 months
after revolution
• Commercial music
station for young
people
• In French language

4. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
• Jammed until 1988
• Licensed in 1990
• Moved to Prague
in 1994
• Joint station with CR
(1995-2002)

5. Transformation of state broadcaster
• 1989-1990: new
constitution (ban of
censorship, freedom
of speech…)
• Lustration certificates
took effect in 1991
• New radio law in 1991

6. Velvet divorce (31/12/1992)
• Czechoslovakia split
into 2 countries after
74 years
• Fast approving of new
laws in the end of
1992

7. Independent Czech Radio
• Czech Radio Act (1991)
• „…is state independent
public brodcaster which
(…) produces news,
documents, drama,
sport, children
programmes…“

8. Radio stations in Czech Republic
Daily Reach (thousands of listeners)
• ca. 90 private radios!
Impuls
• 86% of Czechs
Frekvence 1
1249 1053 listening to radio
Evropa 2
stations at least once
545 949
in a week
Czech Radio
National
Czech Radio
1078 877 Regional
Other
• Average listening time
commercial
is 3 hours 26 mins

9. Czech Radio today (December 2012)
• 4 nationwide stations
• 4 digital stations
• 13 regional studios
• 1 foreign service
(in 5 languages)
• 3 internet channels

10. Czech Radio Council
• 9 members appointed
by lower house of
Czech Parliament
• Oversees the
budget, issues the
year report
• Can‘t interfere into
program content

11. How is the Czech Radio paid?
Sources of income (2011) • No state donations
10.2% • Annual budget about
2 billions CZK (109.5 Mio
Radio fees
USD/83.18 Mio euro)
• Radio fee: 45 CZK/month
Commercial (2.30 USD/1.78 euro)
activities
89.8% • Strong profitable
company (net profit 4 Mio
USD in 2011)

12. Nationwide channels (incl. digital)
• Channel 1: Radiožurnál • Channel 5: D-dur
news, current affairs classic music 24/7
• Channel 2: Praha • Channel 6: Leonardo
family station, entertainment station for popular science
• Channel 3: Vltava • Channel 7: Radio Wave
cultural station, classic music station for young people
• Channel 4: Šestka • Channel 8: Rádio Česko
analyses, debates, essays no music, just news

13. Broadcasting platforms
• VHF
• MW
• Digital terrestrial TV
• Digital terrestrial radio
• Satellite
• Cable TV
• On-line broadcasting
• Mobile applications

14. Digital radio in the Czech Republic
• DAB/DAB+ (L-Band)
• Tested since 1999
• Real start in 4/2011
• Coverage: 36% of
population
• 14 stations

15. Internet and social media
• 11/1994: News via gopher
• 1996: RealAudio streaming
• 5/1998: Czech website
• Facebook since 2008
• YouTube since 2008
• Twitter since 2012
• ca. 85.000 visits a day

16. Multimedia in Czech Radio
• Video production
since 2005
• More than 2700
videos produced
• Debates, politics, ente
rtainment, popular
science

17. Any questions?
Visit rozhlas.cz/english
E-mail contact:
FROZANEK@CRO.CZ