In the given period Radio Prague experienced further austerity measures. The budget cuts between 2011 and 2013 resulted in the loss of 19 employees. Since 2013 Radio Prague has operated with a team of 40 people. The Czech language department was reduced to a mere two reporters, who now provide news coverage, expat related stories, culture and history features. Following a slight budget increase in 2014 Radio Prague has been able to offer broader economic news coverage.
Radio Prague’s budget 2011–2015:
After the termination of shortwave broadcasts in 2011 the Internet became Radio Prague’s main platform. Due to strong competition from other internet news sites, maintaining the previous steady growth in the number of visitors is not easy. In 2015 the share of website visitors was as follows: English language website 24.7 percent, German language website 20.2 percent, Russian language website 16.8 percent, Czech language website 15 percent, Spanish language website 11.7 percent and French language website 11.5 percent. It was the Russian section which registered the most significant increase in the number of visitors, going from sixth to third place in 2013. The reason is simple: interest in news about Ukraine.
As regards who our visitors are, in 2015 the biggest share of our website visitors came from the Czech Republic (30.4 percent), followed by Germany (14.4 percent), Russia (7.8 percent), France (7.4 percent), US (6.4 percent). Here too we see a significant increase in interest from Russian visitors. The high number of visitors from the Czech Republic is the result of globalization and the growing number of foreigners in the Czech Republic. Radio Prague is also followed by embassies and international institutions. The number of subscribers to our daily news bulletins is now over 12,000. The vast majority of our visitors read our reports; only a sixth of them download podcasts or listen to reports in audio. The biggest interest is in news and current affairs reports.
Average monthly visits of www.radio.cz 2011–2015:
Social networks, primarily Facebook, play an increasingly important role in reaching our audience. As the graphs below show, listener response in the form of emails and letters is steadily dropping. To a certain extent it is being replaced by communication on social networks.
Listeners’ letters and emails:
Facebook – number of fans:
In addition to the Internet, Radio Prague also reaches its listeners worldwide thanks to rebroadcasts by partner radio stations. The biggest response is to Radio Prague’s Spanish and English program relayed on shortwave by Radio Miami International. Radio Prague also produces a special program for expat radio stations in Europe and Australia as well as for the organization Czech Schools Without Borders.
Rebroadcasting on FM:
Rebroadcasting on AM:
Rebroadcasting on shortwave:
Satellite transmissions
Radio Prague closely cooperates with a number of national and international institutions, among them the Czech Centers network, the French Institute in Prague, Cervantes Institute, the Czech-German Discussion Forum, Forum 2,000 and Europaische Wochen Passau.
Běla Gran Jensen, photo: archive of Radio Prague
As a way of boosting communication with listeners, Radio Prague regularly issues QSL cards, organizes competitions and hands out promotional materials. In 2012 Radio Prague, Czech Radio and Czech Television co-organized a survey seeking the greatest Czech Abroad. The winner of the public poll was Bela Gran Jensen, the founder of the charity organization Stonožka (Centipede, www.centipede.org), in aid of disadvantaged children, plastic surgeon Bohdan Pomahač, a pioneer in face transplants, placed second and the Czech-born former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright came third. The award ceremony took place at Prague’s National Theatre on 28 October 2012, on the occasion of Czechoslovak Independence Day.
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Author: Miroslav Krupička
Radio Prague Editor-in-chief
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