Radio Prague
is a medium-
sized radio station that has been
broadcasting internationally
since 1936. After the fall of
communism, the station
underwent fundamental changes
in financing and output as well
as in personnel. At the start of the
new millennium it is accurate to
describe Radio Prague as a
modest, effective and modern
broadcaster. Modest and
effective because the station operates on a yearly budget of
just 2 million euros, yet manages to finance the production
of broadcasts in six languages (English, German, French,
Spanish, Russian, and Czech). Radio Prague’s broadcasts
enjoy a sizeable audience around the world, while modernity
is expressed through the variety of available platforms
(satellite, internet, re-broadcasting), as well as overall digital
production. Last but not least, Radio Prague offers variety
through various special projects.
Notable recent projects include shortwave broadcasts for Czech
troops stationed in operations in Kuwait and Iraq in 2003. Once
again shortwave broadcasting showed its intrinsic usefulness:
unrestricted by national frontiers and simple to pick up using an
ordinary and inexpensive receiver. Thanks to this project, Czech
soldiers in the Middle East were able to hear the latest news
from home as well as goodwill messages from friends and loved
ones. The response from both the soldiers and the general public
was surprisingly large.
Another project that enriched what is otherwise mainly current
affairs-based programming was a German-language production
of Vaclav Havel’s radio play “Guardian Angel”: this was
broadcast to our German-speaking listeners in Europe at
Christmas last year. Radio Prague is preparing the world
premiere of an English version of the same play later this year.
For several years nowRadio Prague has been involved in the
Radio
E
project, presenting a platform for Radio Prague reports on other
European stations. Another co-operative project is
Insight Central
Europe
(ICE), a co-production bringing together Radio Austria
International, Radio Polonia, Radio Slovakia, Radio Budapest,
Radio Slovenia, and Radio Prague.
ICE
is an English-language
magazine programme that deals with current and important Central
European issues. Until recently the project was financed by EU
grants, but from April 2004 will come under production of Radio
Prague, which has applied for a production grant from the
International Visegrad Fund.
ICE
has its own web-pages
and has become a regular staple for
Central European listeners. Projects like
ICE
clearly indicate the
path international broadcasting could take in the near future.
In discussing platforms it is important to point out the prominent
position held by the internet. Radio Prague first launched its
website ten years ago. Our site at
offers both sound
and transcripts of all our
stories, as well as
information on special
events such as The Year
of Czech Music 2004,
launched in the year of the
Dvorak centenary. It is
also possible to subscribe
to a daily news bulletin
and summary of Radio Prague’s reports by email. A sister Radio
Prague website called
provides a perspective on
life for the Romany
minority in the Czech
Republic. Meanwhile a
special site recently
developed for Czech
expatriates around the
world
is
entitled
. The
growing readership of
Radio Prague’s web-pages shows that expanding onto the net
was a logical and successful step: Radio Prague received an
average of 300,000 visits per month in 2003.
Another platform used more and more by Radio Prague is
broadcasting on FM. This year the station began broadcasting in
German in Berlin on 97.2 FM and in English in Prague on Regina
92.3 FM. The English broadcast is intended for tourists and visitors
to the Czech Republic. As of last year Radio Prague has produced
cultural programming for the French station RFI 99.3 FM in
Prague. Through FM, Radio Prague hopes to reach listeners who
wouldn’t tune in on either short-wave or the internet.
Re-broadcasting is also very effective. Radio Prague cooperates
with 11 other radio stations in various countries, including
Russia, Spain, and several Latin American states, where our
broadcasts are re-aired on local frequencies. The same goes for
stations in Europe and Australia broadcasting for Czech
minorities. Re-broadcasting represents an opportunity to reach
a wider audience without added costs.
While Radio Prague is keen to use all new platforms, this does not
mean the station is aiming to leave shortwave behind – quite the
contrary. Last year saw new initiatives to improve shortwave
reception of Radio Prague in Russia, Germany and Latin America,
thanks to retransmission
by shortwave from transmitters in Russia
and Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Listeners’ letters – a
full 17,000 last year – show that shortwave popularity remains high.
Those are just a few examples of Radio Prague’s strategy for the
future. At the up-coming AIB Global Media Conference in
Prague, I look forward to learning more about approaches used
by colleagues throughout the world.
Radio Prague is a Member of the AIB.
Maximum radio
at
minimal cost
Miroslav Krupicka, Director, Radio Prague
Krupicka - defining strategies
the
channel
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