Why international broadcasting still matters: Czechast with Petr Brod on BBC, RFE and RPI

In Czechast, journalist Petr Brod draws on decades of experience at the BBC and Radio Free Europe to reflect on the past and future of international broadcasting. As funding pressures grow and audiences shift online, the role of global media is being redefined. The episode also asks what place remains for Radio Prague International in today’s world.

International broadcasting once played a crucial role in shaping how people understood the world beyond their borders. During the Cold War, stations such as the BBC World Service and Radio Free Europe provided not only news, but also a sense of connection to a wider, freer world. For many listeners in Central and Eastern Europe, they were among the few trusted sources of information.

But what is their role today?

That is the central question of the latest episode of Czechast, which features veteran journalist Petr Brod. Having worked at the BBC in London, Radio Free Europe in Munich and later leading the BBC’s Czech service in Prague, Petr Brod brings a rare insider perspective on how these institutions functioned—and how they are changing.

Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Czech Radio

The discussion also turns to Czechia’s own voice abroad. Radio Prague International today broadcasts in several languages, aiming to explain Czech society, politics and culture to global audiences. But how does a smaller broadcaster compare to global giants? And does it still have a meaningful role in an era dominated by social networks and digital platforms?

These are some of the questions Vít Pohanka explores with Petr Brod in this new episode of Czechast, a podcast in English about all things Czech.