Czech TV ends news blackout

Disruption to broadcasts could be nearing an end

Officials at Czech Television (CT) have stopped blacking out news bulletins produced by journalists protesting against the controversial appointment of Jiri Hodac as the station's new director.

The rebel journalists, who have been occupying the newsroom in Prague for the past two weeks, have welcomed the decision but say they will continue their protest until all their demands are met.

TV staff are staging a sit-in

The station's head of news, Jana Bobosikova, who is loyal to Mr Hodac, said she had been advised that the blackouts were illegal.

The decision gives rebel staff a major victory, enabling them to broadcast their side of the story in their own news bulletins.

They used Wednesday's broadcast to call for demonstrations in support of their protest in Prague's historic Wenceslas Square on Thursday.

The Czech parliament is due to meet on Friday to sack the television station's board of governors - which has blocked Mr Hodac's dismissal.

'Political interests'

The management has until now jammed what it calls the journalists' "pirate broadcasts", and viewers have got used to blank screens carrying an apology from the management for loss of service.

Mr Hodac's own news team has been putting out alternative news bulletins which have been evidently one-sided and well below the quality Czech viewers are used to.

The controversial boss faces dismissal

Protesting CT staff say that Mr Hodac's appointment was made in order to advance the interests of the two main political parties.

CT's board of governors are dominated by appointees of the ruling Social Democrats (CSSD) and the main opposition Civic Democratic party (ODS) of former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus.

However, a legal amendment which parliament plans to rush through in weeks would replace the current council with one whose members would be proposed by civic groups, not politicians.

The CSSD leadership has indicated it will sanction the dismissal of the governors.