PRAGUE (dpa-AFX) – Because of the high inflation, the public television CT in the Czech Republic has to save. The broadcaster announced on Tuesday spending cuts over the next two years amounting to the equivalent of almost 37 million euros. Up to 250 jobs are to be gradually cut. Director General Petr Dvorak criticized the fact that television broadcasting fees had not been increased since 2008. Because of the price increase, there has been a real loss in value of 36 percent since then.
Significant cuts are planned in the programme. The third channel CT3, aimed at seniors, will be discontinued. The number of new productions and cinema co-productions should be reduced. “We will continue to be able to offer our viewers programs that are relevant to them over the next few years – it will just be fewer,” stressed Dvorak. Investments in technology should be limited to what is absolutely necessary.
According to information from the industry, the public broadcaster CT achieved a market share of 32.34 percent among the over-15s last year. The private broadcaster Nova came in second with 26.34 percent, followed by Prima with 25.17 percent./hei/DP/eas