Czech Radio Launches Live Ukrainian Broadcasting
Today, in response to the request by the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:PBC, Czech Radio has launched an internet stream of the UA:PBC radio broadcast in Ukrainian, which will be available on the audio portal and in the mobile application mujRozhlas.cz. The aim is to make information about the war in Ukraine available daily to refugees and Ukrainians in the Czech Republic.
Czech Radio will also launch a new podcast next week called “News for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic,” which will focus on practical information for Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic.
"Yesterday's attack by Russian troops on the TV tower in Kiev also limited radio broadcasting on FM waves. UA:PBC journalists found themselves in a critical situation that we can scarcely imagine. We are in daily contact with our Ukrainian Radio colleagues and we are trying to provide them not only with moral support, but also with technical assistance so that they are able to ensure radio broadcasting and keep the public informed about the events in their country," said René Zavoral, Director General of Czech Radio.
Czech Radio is regularly contributing audio news reports from war correspondent Martin Dorazín, who is based in eastern Ukraine, and Radiožurnál reporter Ľubomír Smatana, who is following the refugee wave on the Ukrainian border, to the European Broadcasting Union's exchange network for audio news content. Thanks to this exchange, their contributions can be heard across Europe.
Starting next week, Radio Prague International, Czech Radio’s foreign language broadcasting station, will be publishing a daily podcast called “News for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic.” The podcast will be in Ukrainian and will contain practical information for Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. Information about the podcast will be made available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that it can inform the relevant authorities and organizations.
UA:PBC is a Ukrainian public television and radio broadcaster and a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Since 2014, UA:PBC has been undergoing a transition from a state-owned medium to a public service medium, and it is gradually gaining new listeners. Thanks to financial assistance from the European Union, it invested in a state-of-the-art digital newsroom, which was fully launched at the end of 2021, and it has attracted new viewers and listeners.
Ukrainian Radio is the largest FM network and the most popular radio station in the country with an average daily reach of almost one million listeners. Since the 22nd of February, Ukrainian Radio has been broadcasting around the clock, providing listeners with the most up-to-date and accurate information on the country's defense. Live broadcasts may be interrupted only during an air raid alert, when presenters take cover in shelters.
In support of Ukraine, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra will play a benefit concert at the Rudolfinum on Monday, the 14th of March, 2022. All proceeds will be donated to the People in Need fund-raising collection for Ukraine. Ticket prices range from 300 CZK to 5000 CZK. All performers are participating without claim for remuneration.