Local oligarchs have spent the last decade buying up Czech media outlets in a bid to add political power to their economic clout. However, Czech billionaire Petr Kellner’s purchase of Central European Media Enterprises (CME) may represent a new degree of danger to democracy. The EU approved the purchase of CME, which operates 30 TV […]

The International Press Institute (IPI) was today joined by the partner organisation of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in sending an open letter to the government of the Czech Republic raising concerns about its side-lining of critical media during press conferences. ———————————– Dear Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Jan Blatný, Minister […]

Petr Kellner, the richest person in the Czech Republic, has become the owner of the influential TV station Nova. His acquisition has expanded the group of the richest Czechs who over the last decade have become the owners of almost all the country’s major media companies. Among this list are the current Prime Minister Andrej […]

IPI and five other press freedom groups have today written to Czech billionaire Petr Kellner of the PPF Group to raise a number of issues regarding media ownership and editorial independence. In the open letter, the groups call on PPF and the new CEO of Central European Media Enterprises (CME) to commit publicly to uphold media freedom […]