What Czech Radio does

Czech Radio (Český rozhlas) is the statutory public service radio broadcaster of the Czech Republic, established in 1923 and operating under Law No. 484/1991 Coll. as a non-profit public institution headquartered in Prague with 1,001-5,000 employees. The organization operates a multi-station national radio network comprising flagship news (Radiožurnál), analytical/documentary (Plus), cultural/classical music (Vltava), general culture (Dvojka), youth (Wave), and children's (Junior) programming, complemented by 12 regional stations and Radio Prague International foreign-language service. Core technology includes FM/DAB+ broadcasting infrastructure, live streaming, podcast RSS distribution, an extensive audio archive, the mujRozhlas consumer platform, the iRozhlas news portal, and a public API for third-party redistribution at api.mujrozhlas.cz. Commercial revenue comes from audiobook and radio play sales via the Radiotéka e-shop, while the primary funding mechanism consists of mandatory public license fees paid by households and businesses, which the Babis government in 2026 proposed replacing with direct state budget allocations resulting in approximately 15% funding cuts and ~CZK 800 million in projected annual losses.

Name

Czech Radio

Legal name

Český rozhlas

Website

https://rozhlas.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Czech Radio (Český rozhlas) is the Czech Republic's statutory public service radio broadcaster, operating national and regional stations, digital audio platforms, and news services for the general Czech public under a license-fee funding model established by law since 1923.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG), Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH), Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC), Commercial Radio Networks (National/Regional) (MPABABAA)

Keywords

• Public radio broadcasting
• News programming
• Cultural radio content
• Digital audio streaming
• Podcast distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. License Fees (Currently): Public media funded through license fees paid by individuals and businesses. Czech Radio would lose approximately £14.3 million from such fees under the proposed government changes.
2. Proposed State Budget Funding: Government proposes replacing license fee system with direct state budget financing, which would result in approximately 15% less funding compared to current levels. Czech Radio estimates a potential annual loss of around CZK 800 million.
3. Radiotéka Audiobooks and Products: Commercial digital audio products including audiobooks, radio plays, and cultural content available for purchase through radioteka.cz e-shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Czech Radio (Český rozhlas) is the Czech Republic's public service radio broadcaster, operating multiple nationwide and regional FM/DAB+ stations delivering news, current affairs, culture, classical music, documentary, youth, and children's programming. It complements linear broadcasting with digital platforms — mujRozhlas (audio archive and podcasts), iRozhlas (news portal), Radiotéka (audiobook e-shop) and Radio Prague International (foreign-language service) — and supports third-party redistribution through a public API. Content is primarily funded via public license fees and is offered free-to-air to all Czech citizens.

Product overview

Czech Radio operates as a public service broadcaster offering a multi-station radio network alongside digital platforms. The core portfolio includes national stations (Radiožurnál for news, Dvojka for culture, Vltava for classical music, Plus for documentaries, Wave for youth music, Junior for children) plus regional stations covering all Czech regions. Digital offerings include mujRozhlas (comprehensive audio platform with archive and podcasts), iRozhlas (news portal), Radiotéka (audiobook shop), and Radio Prague International (foreign-language service). The organization produces documentary series (Příběhy 20. století), news podcasts (Vinohradská 12, Chyba systému), specialized podcasts (Urgent on emergency medicine), and maintains a symphony orchestra. Content is distributed via DAB+ digital radio, live streaming, podcast RSS feeds, web embeds, and a public API for third-party redistribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Radiožurnál: Main news and current affairs radio station
• Dvojka
• Vltava
• Plus
• Wave
• Radio Praha
• iRozhlas
• mujRozhlas

Products and services

• Radiožurnál Flagship 24-hour national news and current affairs radio station offering radio journalism, sports reporting, and commentary for general Czech listeners.
• Dvojka National radio station focused on culture and entertainment, featuring literary programs, drama, and arts coverage for Czech listeners.
• Vltava National cultural radio station dedicated to classical music, cultural content, and documentary programming for arts-oriented Czech audiences.
• Plus Analytical and documentary radio station providing in-depth news analysis, commentary, and documentary programming for news-engaged Czech listeners.
• Wave Music radio station targeting young adult listeners with alternative and contemporary music programming and digital-first content.
• Junior Children's radio station offering audio programming designed for young listeners and families across the Czech Republic.
• Radio Prague International International broadcasting service for foreign audiences, delivering Czech news and cultural programming in English, German, Spanish, French, and Russian.
• mujRozhlas Comprehensive digital audio platform providing live streaming, on-demand audio archive access, podcast downloads, and full program catalog across all Czech Radio stations.
• iRozhlas News portal and application delivering Czech Radio's journalism, written news articles, multimedia stories, and audio content to Czech readers.
• Radiotéka Digital e-commerce platform where consumers can purchase audiobooks, radio dramas, and recorded literary content produced by Czech Radio.
• Digital Radio (DAB+) DAB+ digital audio broadcasting service providing enhanced-quality reception of Czech Radio stations and other broadcasters.
• Symfonický orchestr Českého rozhlasu (Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra) Czech Radio's professional symphony orchestra performing classical and contemporary music, supporting the public broadcaster's cultural programming mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Continuous support for Ukrainian public media since Russia's full-scale invasion
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Broadcasting Union (EBU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Czech Radio is a member of the European Broadcasting Union. The EBU represents public service media organizations across Europe and provides collaboration opportunities, technical standards, and advocacy for public media independence. EBU Director Noel Curran met with Czech President Petr Pavel to discuss protections for Czech public media.
• Czech Television (Česká televize)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Joint public service media partnership. Both broadcasters issued joint statements warning about government funding changes threatening editorial independence. They coordinate on shared public service media concerns and joint advocacy for independence.
• Post BellumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Příběhy 20. století' (Stories of the 20th Century) documentary series documenting testimonies of witnesses to 20th century history, including the Communist era, WWII, and historical events significant to Czech democracy.
• BBCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentioned as a member of the EBU alongside BBC and ORF, expressing concerns about Czech government plans to change public media funding through a joint international statement.
• ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentioned as co-signatory to international organizations' statement expressing concern over Czech government plans to replace license fees with state budget funding.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Radio France: France's national public radio broadcaster, operating multiple specialized stations (France Inter, France Culture, France Musique, FIP, etc.) and digital platforms including podcasts. Directly analogous in operating a multi-station public radio network with cultural, news, classical, and music programming under a public service mandate.
• Deutschlandradio: Germany's national public radio broadcaster, operating Deutschlandfunk, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, and Deutschlandfunk Nova. Closely comparable as a multi-station national public radio network with cultural, news, and youth programming, funded via license fees under similar regulatory frameworks to Czech Radio.
• Polskie Radio: Poland's national public radio broadcaster. Directly comparable as a Central European public service radio network operating multiple specialized stations (news, culture, classical, regional) under a license-fee funding model, facing similar political and funding pressures in the region.
• RTVS (Rozhlas a televízia Slovenska): Slovakia's public service broadcaster. Closely comparable peer given geographic and cultural proximity. Czech Radio explicitly produced a documentary ('Slovenská lekce') examining Slovakia's experience with public media independence erosion, highlighting the relevance of this peer as a cautionary comparison.
• ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk): Austria's public service broadcaster. Direct peer as a Central European public broadcaster funded via license fees that operates radio and television, joined EBU statements alongside Czech Radio opposing the Czech funding reform. Provides a near-comparable benchmark for size, funding model, and editorial structure.
• Sveriges Radio: Sweden's national public radio broadcaster. Comparable as a multi-station public radio network (P1, P2, P3, P4 regional) funded via license fees, with strong digital and podcast platforms. Represents a benchmark for stable, well-funded European public radio operations.
• Yle (Yleisradio): Finland's national public service broadcaster. Comparable as a publicly funded multi-platform broadcaster operating radio, TV, and digital services, recently transitioned to a public funding model from license fees — directly relevant to Czech Radio's contemplated funding reform.

Broad incumbents

• BBC: The United Kingdom's public service broadcaster. Comparable as a publicly funded, multi-platform national broadcaster that operates radio networks, digital platforms, podcasts, and international services. BBC is also an EBU member and co-signatory with Czech Radio on statements defending public media independence.
• NPR (National Public Radio): The U.S. public radio network. Directly analogous as a publicly funded nonprofit radio network providing news, culture, and music programming, supported by member stations and digital platforms including podcasts. Same regulatory moat (public service mandate) and funding structure (member contributions analogous to license fees).

Others

• Post Bellum: Czech non-profit organization operating Paměť národa (Memory of the Nation), Czech Radio's strategic content partner on the acclaimed 'Příběhy 20. století' documentary series. Included as an adjacent ecosystem participant and key content collaborator rather than a direct broadcaster peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/crozhlas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Českýrozhlas
• Facebookfacebook.com/ceskyrozhlas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/czech-radio
• Instagraminstagram.com/ceskyrozhlas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Czech Radio