Česká televize building in Prague

Česká televize (Czech pronunciation: [tʃɛskaː tɛlɛvɪzɛ], Czech abbreviation ČT, "Czech Television") is the public television broadcaster in the Czech Republic, broadcasting four channels.

History[link]

Czechoslovak Television[link]

Television in Czechoslovakia started to take its first steps before World War II. However, before visible results could be achieved, all activities were interrupted by the war. Research continued after the war. The first trial television broadcast was shown in 1948 at the MEVRO International Radio Exhibition in Prague. A trial television broadcast from Studio Prague started on May 1, 1953, and on February 25, 1954 it was declared regular. Soon, additional studios were established: in Ostrava on December 31, 1955, in Bratislava on November 3, 1956, in Brno on July 6, 1961, and in Košice on February 25, 1962. 1970 - launching of a second channel 1973 - colour broadcasting on the second channel 1975 - colour broadcasting on the first channel

Czech Television[link]

Czech Television was established as of January 1, 1992, based on the Czech Television Act (Act No. 483/1991 Coll.) as a television service for the citizens of the Czech Republic. On January 1, 1993, a new concept of channels broadcast by Czech Television was introduced, which were renamed to CT1 (formerly CTV), CT2 (formerly F1), and CT3 (formerly OK3). On February 3, 1994, Czech Television freed one of the nationwide broadcast channels in accordance with the law; starting February 4, 1994 Czech Television was left with two channels - CT1 and CT2. 2005 - launching of news channel CT24 2006 - launching of sports channel CT4 SPORT

Czech TV Crisis[link]

The "Czech TV crisis" occurred at the end of 2000 and lasted until early 2001 as a battle for control of the airwaves, which included jamming and accusations of censorship. During the Czech TV crisis, Czech TV reporters organized an industrial dispute by staging a sit-in and occupying the news studio and rejected attempts by Jana Bobošíková to fire them. They were supported in their protest by politicians such as the then President Václav Havel and by Czech celebrities, but every time they tried to air their news broadcasts, Bobošíková and Jiří Hodač would jam the transmission either with a "technical fault" screen reading: "An unauthorized signal has entered this transmitter. Broadcasting will resume in a few minutes", or with their own news broadcasts featuring Jana Bobošíková and a team she had hired to "replace" the staff members she had sought to terminate. The Czech TV crisis eventually ended in early 2001, following the departure from Czech TV of Hodač and Bobošíková, under pressure by the street demonstration participants and at the request of the Czech Parliament, which had held an emergency session due to the crisis.

Channels[link]

Current[link]

ČT1[link]

ČT1 is a general purpose channel, showing family-oriented television, Czech movies, children's programming, news and documentaries.

ČT1 HD[link]

ČT1 HD is the high-definition version of ČT1.

ČT2[link]

ČT2 broadcasts documentaries and nature-oriented shows such as documentary films by David Attenborough. This channel also frequently shows foreign films in the original versions with Czech subtitles, including many English-language movies.

ČT24[link]

CT24 is a 24-hour news channel, with news programme, which broadcasts continually, offering hot news with live material every hour, extended economic and cultural news, discussions, magazines, economic overviews etc. When the DVB-T public service multiplex is brought into full operation, the programme offer of traditional TV channels will be supplemented by additional services – textual information, charts, maps, dictionaries, practical information designed to help the viewers in emergencies and other stress situations, but also a special verbal description of visual scenes for the blind etc. ČT24 broadcasting live over the internet, as well as over the satellites Astra 3A, Astra 1KR and Intelsat 10-02. It is also carried on Czech cable-TV providers and digital terrestrial services.

ČT4[link]

ČT4 (previously ČT4 Sport) is a sports channel, it broadcasts live over the satellites Astra 3A, Astra 1KR and Intelsat 10-02. It is also carried on Czech cable-TV providers and digital terrestrial services. Broadcast parts of major world, European and Czech sports events (i.e. Olympic Games, World Cups or European Championships) are broadcast here.

ČT4 HD[link]

ČT4 HD is the high-definition version of ČT4, launched on 3 May 2012.

Former[link]

ČT HD[link]

ČT HD was the high-definition channel from ČT, broadcasting programmes from ČT1, ČT2 and ČT4. On 1 March 2012, the channel was transformed into ČT1 HD.

Future[link]

Czech TV now prepares new channel for year 2012, ČT3. ČT3 will be children's and educational channel broadcasted by DVB-T, DVB-S and by Cable TV.

Funding and management[link]

Česká televize is funded through television licence fees (larger part of revenue) and from advertising (where it is less successful than commercial television stations). During 2004 and 2005 the organisation lobbied the Czech government to increase the licence fee so that advertising could be eliminated.

Media occasionally raise questions about how much Česká televize is able to withstand pressure both from the governing parties and the opposition and maintain unbiased and critical coverage of politics.

The current General Manager of Česká televize is Petr Dvořák, who was elected for a six-year term by the Czech Television Council (Rada České televize).

External links[link]

• Official site in English
• Official site in Czech
• Watch selected Czech Television programs in streaming video
• ČT24
• Česká televize public relations in English

Coordinates: 50°03′N 14°25.57′E / 50.05°N 14.42617°E / 50.05; 14.42617