Czech [public service] TV feels it has been harmed [by Nova]

An unnecessarily large campaign accompanying the public debate about whether or not to increase the public service TV's licence fee has damaged Czech TV, said its Chief Executive Ivo Mathe. Mathe added that Czech TV's licence fee had not been raised in line with inflation for six years. He added that CzechTV has reduced the number of its employees, it is downsizing its operations and maximising the use of its resources. (...)

(Czech TV's licence fee has now been raised by parliament to compensate for about 50 per cent of inflation. JC's note.)

Mathe added that in return for the raising of the licence fee, Czech TV will provide 25 per cent of its programming with subtitles for the hard of hearing. Czech TV will also extend its news programmes, especially through the night.

Mathe expressed his disappointment over the "unnecessarily low viewing figures" of Czech TV's main evening news. The new viewing figures were obtained using "peoplemetres".

Czech Television has made available to journalists a tape of broadcasts, transmitted by Nova TV, which have dealt with the issue of the public service television licence fee.

Mathe characterised these broadcasts as "dirt" and "manipulation of Czech public opinion". At a news conference, Mathe refused to answer a question, given to him by Nova TV's reporter Tomas Smrcek. "I will not discuss this issue with you. In my view, you are not a reputable journalist," said Mathe.

(Jan Culik - Glasgow University)