Czech TV decision to not show news conference “revenge” for Zeman comments, says spokesman

President Miloš Zeman’s spokesman says Czech Television’s decision to not broadcast live a news conference he gave on Tuesday was “childish revenge” for comments the head of state recently made about the station. Jiří Ovčáček said the president’s office was considering making a complaint to the Radio and Television Council over the matter. Last week Mr. Zeman accused Czech Television of not being a genuine public service broadcaster and questioned its current license fee funding model. The station has previously broadcast Mr. Ovčáček’s news conferences live on its news channel. Czech TV said it had no reason to believe that the spokesman was going to release any new information at the one held on Tuesday.

Author: Ian Willoughby