History of Czech Radio
History of Czech Radio
1923
Čtěte také
May 18 PRAGUE – the start of regular broadcasting from a tent in Kbely (Czechoslovakia is only the second country, after Britain, to broadcast regularly in Europe)
1924
August 1 The first sports broadcast, which is boxing from Letná
September 1 BRNO – the start of studio broadcasting from the city
1925
February 12 The first live opera broadcast is Smetana´s “The Two Widows” from the National Theatre in Prague
January 28 The first Czech broadcasting station begins operating in Prague called Staré Strašnice
October 28 The first live broadcast of a presidential address
1926
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Agricultural Radio begins regular broadcasting, the first specialised radio broadcast in Europe
1927
April 1 The time signal is introduced
October 1 Foundation of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
October 23 BRATISLAVA – the start of studio broadcasting from the city
1928
October 26 The first international opera broadcast is “The Bartered Bride” from the Opera Comique in Paris
1929
July 1 MORAVSKÁ OSTRAVA – the start of studio broadcasting from the city
1930
September 8 The first transoceanic broadcast, from New York
October 9 The first broadcast from a wax cylinder recording
1932
Decembre 10 Ceremonial opening of the new Czechoslovak Radio building in Fochova třída (now Vinohradská 12, in Prague’s Vinohrady), which is still the institution’s headquarters
1935
The foundation of the Disman Children´s Radio Ensemble
1936
August 31 RADIO PRAHA begins broadcasting abroad
1945
Čtěte také
May 5 The Prague Uprising begins with radio appeals for help
May Czechoslovak Radio begins broadcasting a second station, originally named PRAHA II, then Československo >Hvězda (after 1968) > Československo (after 1989) > ČRo 1 - RADIOŽURNÁL (1993)
End of the year PLZEŇ and ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE - start of studio broadcasting from these cities HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ and ÚSTÍ n/L - start of studio broadcasting from these cities
1953
The start of television broadcasting (TV was part of Czechoslovak Radio until 1957)
1954
The introduction of transmitting radio by wire
1958
The first VHF transmitter begins transmitting on Petřín hill in Prague
1964
March 1 The first stereo broadcast, jointly by Praha Radio and TV
The regional station for Prague and central Bohemia (after ‘91 REGINA PRAHA) begins broadcasting
December A station for more demanding listeners begins broadcasting on VHF entitled ČESKOSLOVENSKO II (VLTAVA after 1968)
1966
The foundation of an international competition for young musicians called “Concertino Praga”
1968
Čtěte také
The radio is an active participant in the movement for political change, broadcasting directly from public meetings and holding discussion programs
August 21 Fighting at the radio leaves 15 dead
1976
The foundation of “Prix Bohemia Radio”, a festival of original radio production
Čtěte také
1991
A new law is passed on Radio and TV Broadcasting, enabling the operation of private channels. The Czech National Council announces the establishment of Czech Radio as an independent public entity
1992
March 31 The foundation of “Concerto Bohemia”, a radio competition for young chamber orchestras
1994
July 1 OLOMOUC - the start of studio broadcasting from the city
July 1 Czech Radio Record Company begins operating
1995
November 6 Czech Radio 6 / RADIO FREE EUROPE begins broadcasting
1997
Act No.135/1997 is passed, increasing the radio license fees to 37 CZK and changing the amount of advertising per day on nationwide and regional channels of Czech Radio, to 3 and 5 minutes respectively
1998
May 1 Foundation of the website www.cro.cz
1999
February 11 Czech Radio opens the Ústí nad Labem branch office in Liberec
July 1 Václav Kasík is appointed the Director General of Czech Radio by the Czech Radio Board
2000
May 18 The ceremonial opening of the new Studio Building on Římská Street
October 29 Czech Radio 7, Radio Praha begins also broadcasting in Russian
2001
August 31 65th anniversary of the first Czech Radio broadcast abroad
2002
March 4 Czech Radio Pardubice begins broadcasting
May 1 The launch of special broadcasts for foreigners living in the Czech Republic. Czech Radio 7 - Radio Prague begins broadcasting programmes in English, German, Spanish, French and Russian. International broadcasting becomes part of the new set up at Czech Radio 6 (formerly Czech Radio 6/Radio Free Europe).
June 17 Czech Radio Region begins broadcasting for the region of Vysočina
September 11 30th ‘Give Blood with Czech Radio’ campaign takes place
Octobre 1 Czech broadcasts of Radio Free Europe the news-current affairs station Czech Radio 6/Radio Free Europe is renamed Czech Radio 6 after the withdrawal of American backing
Octobre 1 Czech Radio Ústí nad Labem is renamed Czech Radio Sever.
Octobre 21 Czech Radio regional broadcasting for Central Bohemia goes under the new name of Czech Radio Region, Central Bohemia (the previous name, Czech Radio Regina, is now exclusively used for Czech Radio broadcasting in the Prague metropolitan area)
2003
80th anniversary of the launch of regular radio broadcasting in the Czech lands
2004
Decembre 14 The start of regular broadcasting from Zlín
2005
May 1 In conjunction with the planned transition to digital broadcasting, Rádio Česko and D-dur stations, begin operating
May 30 Czech Radio Sever starts regular broadcasting for the Liberec and Jablonec region
- Broadcasting of Czech Radio Leonardo begins (on the Internet since September, digital since 21 October)
2006
January 13 1:13 p.m. (13:13 24hr clock), sees the launch of Czech Radio 4 - Radio Wave
2010
Čtěte také
March 1 Peter Duhan appointed as interim Director General of Czech Radio
2011
July 28 Peter Duhan appointed as Director General of Czech Radio
New newsroom and Radio Wave transmission complex set up
2012
June 14–15 EBU Radio News Conference
December 31 Launch of Czech Radio Radiožurnál newsroom
2013
January 1 Gustav Brom Radio Big Band engaged as one of Czech Radio’s ensembles
February 28 Broadcasting of the digital station Rádio Česko terminated
February 28 Broadcasting of CR Leonardo terminated
March 1 CR Plus begins broadcasting as a nationwide station
March 1 Broadcasting of CR Jazz launched
March 1 Broadcasting of Rádio Junior launched
March 1 Czech Radio’s new logo and new corporate identity introduced
May 18 Czech Radio celebrates 90 years of regular broadcasting
Čtěte také
2014
June 21 90th anniversary of Czech Radio Brno
November 17 The ’89 Again’ gala concert on Wenceslas Square takes place – marking the 25th anniversary of the end of the totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia (charting the events of 1989, the project involved all of Czech Radio’s stations)
2015
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June 25-26 74th EBU General Assembly in Prague
August 7 Czech Radio launches an experimental DAB digital multiplex for Prague and its surroundings
2016
January 21 René Zavoral appointed as Director General of Czech Radio
2017
April Czech Radio launched the news server iROZHLAS.cz
April 3.-4. Czech Radio hosted the 23rd EBU Radio Assembly in Pilsen.
2018
May Czech Radio celebrated 95 years since officially establishing its radio broadcasting.
Čtěte také
August Czech Radio commemorates 50 years since the Warsaw Pact invasion through the large-scale Project ’68, which was awarded the Prix Europa for the best digital project of the year.
September In 2018 Czech Radio was the subject of an EBU Peer-to-Peer analysis, which was focused on assessing the values of public service media. For more, see here.
2019
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September The new and unique Radiocafé Vinohradská 12 was opened to the public and used for live broadcasts.
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November Czech Radio commemorates 30 years since the Velvet Revolution and its key date the 17th November 1989 with the sociological study “Divided by Freedom“ and the international conference Europe without the Iron Curtain: 30 Years of Freedom.
2020
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September 17. Czech Radio, along with České Radiokomunikace, launched digital broadcasting from ten new DAB+ transmitters in Bohemia and Moravia, thus entering the final stage of extending its digital broadcasting. As a result, coverage increased to 95% of the Czech population.
Čtěte také
December 3. Czech Radio launched the mujRozhlas project, which constitutes the third pillar of the broadcaster’s internet strategy.
2021
April René Zavoral, the Director General of Czech Radio was re-elected for the third consecutive time as Vice-Chair of the Radio Committee of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
May 21. Czech Radio launched the first specialized sports digital radio station in the Czech Republic called Radiožurnál Sport.
Čtěte také
June Czech Radio celebrates its phenomenal success at the 73rd edition of one of the most prestigious and oldest European festivals of radio and television production, Prix Italia, having won the first prize in the Radio Music category with its project “Hudba k siréně” (Music for Sirens).
Čtěte také
October 1. The digital station Czech Radio Pohoda (meaning Relax) intended not only for elderly listeners launched its broadcasting.
2022
January 21. Czech Radio Council confirmed René Zavoral as Director General of Czech Radio for a second term of six years, which started on 21st January 2022.
2023
Czech Radio celebrates its centennial! May 18th, 2023 officially marked 100 years of Czech Radio's existence, making it the oldest continental European broadcaster and second in Europe only to the BBC. The year was jam-packed with exciting events, from concerts to conferences, as well as an array of new projects to mark this special anniversary. Although the celebrations were very much about looking back at all Czech Radio has accomplished over the past century, they were equally focused on looking ahead. Thus the slogan of Czeach Radio's 100th year: 100 years is just the beginning.
