| Czech Republic (population:
10,294,822)
ČT-1 and the culturally
oriented ČT-2 provide publid
terrestrial channels. In 1999, Vladimír Železný
did the dirty on CME (US), and used Czech finance to displace US-funded
Nova TV with a new station of his own, carrying the same name.
Železný and the
Czech Republic owe CME over
half a billion dollars following a lawsuit, and as a result nobody
seems quite sure anymore who the owners of Nova TV are.
Public sector TV is still stodgy
and lacking in transparency, but it is nonetheless in receipt of licence
revenue. In 2000 Czech TV was sensationally ‘hi-jacked’ by Jiří Hodač,
who claimed that the government was trying to restrict freedom of
expression. In fact, he was reacting – and not without justification
– to the resultant threat posed to the ‘informal subcontractors’ infrastructure’
upon which many Prague-based artists were heavily dependent.
TV Prima is the other commercial
station, and corruption amongst the rank-and-file is rank! Ownership
of both Nova TV and TV Prima remains undisclosed due to national legislation.
There was also some controversy
in 2001 surrounding regional channel TV Galaxy, which transmits broadcasts
across Prague and Hradec Králové
and is additionally available via satellite and cable. TV Galaxy also
broadcasts TV-3 programming; TV-3 is owned by Luxembourg-based European
Media Ventures, which tried to seize control over Galaxy but was thwarted
by the Council for Radio and TV Broadcasting.
Licences exist for 15 satellite
and 94 cable operators. The three main cable players, UPC Czech Holding,
Intercable CZ and TES Media, are owned by Dutch and US companies.
Audience share percentages
follow:
Terrestrial
T-1 20.6%
ČT-2 11.5%
Private
TV Nova 45.6%
Prima TV 17.4%
Cable
UPC ČR (film)
Intercable CZ
Satellite
HBO ČR
(film)
Eastbox Digital (eighteen thematic programmes)
CTV
– Czech Television
Ceska Televize. Domŭů … po Internetu ...Member of EBU (European Broadcasting Union),
PBI (Public Broadcasting International), SMPTE (Society of Motion
Pictures and Television Engineers), EGTA (European Group of Television
Advertising), CIRCOM Regional, IMZ (Internationales Musikzentrum),
Euronews & Eurosport.
Contacts: Media Sales House
ARBOmedia
Janáčkovo nábřeží 51/59
CZ – 150 00
Praha 5
+420 251 082 277,111
www.arbomedia.cz
Production Services
Dept. (providing services, rent of TV facilities)
Jaroslava.hybsova@czech-tv.cz
+420 261 137 401
+420 261 218
010
Czech
Television Council
www.czech-tv.cz/radact
radact@czech-tv.cz
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