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Crisis in Czech televisionCT back on air, but watchdog chairman complains about news blackout
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Current AffairsNo end in sight to Czech Television crisis
The crisis over Czech Television continues. Thousands of people gathered
once again outside the news building on Thursday evening, the latest in a
series of demonstrations against the appointment of General Director Jiri
Hodac. was there, and brings back this report:
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Current AffairsJournalists divided over Czech Television crisis
The crisis at the country's public television network, Czech Television, has
now gone far beyond an internal dispute; the battle for control of the
network has gripped Czech political and public life and serious questions
are now being asked as to the independence of the Czech media. But
journalists themselves are not united over the dispute, as discovered:
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Current AffairsKlaus calls for privatisation of public television network
The protests over the appointment of a new General Director of the country's
state-run television network, Czech Television, continue. Thursday saw
demonstrations organised by news editors and staff, furious at the hasty
appointment of Jiri Hodac, who they accuse of having close links to the
right-of-centre Civic Democratic Party. Meanwhile, the leader of the Civic
Democrats, Vaclav Klaus, has come up with his own unique solution to the
crisis. reports:
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Current AffairsCzech TV in crisis
On Wednesday, the main evening news show of the public Czech TV Ceska
televize broadcast silence for two minutes. A message appeared on TV
screens with a proclamation by Czech TV employees, saying that by
naming Jiri Hodac to the director's post the Czech Television
supervisory board had "directly threatened the independence and
functioning of public television". More from :
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Current AffairsAppointment of new public TV director in the limelight
The sacking of the general director of Czech public television last week,
and the search for his replacement, has become a broader issue than just
finding the right man for a sensitive job. President Havel has said he does
not really understand the reason why Dusan Chmelicek was sacked. A strong
lobby within Czech Television itself says the decision was unprofessional -
after just ten months in the job, Mr. Chmelicek couldn't possibly prove that
he was capable of handling the job. Many believe the issue is purely
political. The supervisory body that appoints and sacks public TV directors
is appointed by parliament, or in reality, political parties. So, if the
outgoing director did not get along with the supervisory body, were some
politicians behind his removal? asked
commentator Vaclav Pinkava for his view on the situation.
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Current AffairsZelezny gains first victory in dispute over TV Nova
The long-standing and complicated dispute over the Czech Republic's most
popular commercial television station, TV Nova, saw a landmark decision on
Thursday: the High Court in Prague ruled in favour of TV Nova's
controversial and enigmatic general director, Vladimir Zelezny. reports:
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Current AffairsCrisis at Czech public TV
There have been a series of shock resignations and disputes within Czech public
television's news section over the last year, amid accusations of political
influence being exerted on the institution. There was a new shock on Friday
when the head of Czech TV's news department, Jiri Hodac, tendered his
resignation after just four months in the job. Mr Hodac claimed, among other
things, that unspecified people outside Czech TV management were enjoying an
ever greater influence inside the organization. So what exactly IS going on in
Czech public TV? put that question to Jan Culik, editor-in-chief of the Internet daily Britske Listy
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