Hynek Chudárek named new Czech Public TV Director General

Hynek Chudárek, formerly Czech Television’s commercial director, will take over as Director General in July after winning the Council’s vote in the sixth round. His opponent, programming chief Milan Fridrich, withdrew to break a stalemate and will remain in the top management as Chudárek’s statutory deputy. Chudárek pledged no sweeping personnel changes but plans to cut the executive team from 19 to nine members. The selection of a new Director General has become a very significant event during the campaign before the parliamentery elections.

Unlike in Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, Czech public media still maintain independence from political influence and are seen as crucial and trustworthy information channel according to the polls. The main opposition Ano Party and Freedom and Direct Democracy Party have been trying to stop recent increase in license fees. They also openly declare that they would like the government to have more control of the public media or cencel them altogether.