BBC applies to extend Czech license

Business webpage Ekonom.cz has reported that the British broadcaster BBC World Service has applied to the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting to prolong its license for its English broadcast to the Czech Republic. The current license for the VHF broadcast – which includes a minimum of six hours in Czech, supplied by Czech Radio’s Rádio Česko – expires in 2012. The move has come as something of a surprise; it was thought that the BBC might cancel its broadcast to the Czech Republic under extensive cost-saving measures, the council’s chairwoman Kateřina Kalistová said. Under Czech legislation, the BBC only had until January 8th to apply for the license to be extended. The Council for Radio & TV Broadcasting has not dealt with the request yet, but Mrs Kalistová said in cases where requirements were met, prolongation of the licence was practically automatic. The new license will last until 2025.