100 YEARS OF CZECH RADIO New Exhibit

Radio broadcasts to the public began in Czechoslovakia on May 18, 1923. In Europe, only the BBC offered regular radio programming before Radiojurnal (the name under which Czechoslovak Radio started broadcasting) first went on the airwaves.

The station’s history reflects the history of the country – the prosperous 1920s, the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the country’s liberation, the dark period of communism, the Prague Spring, the 1968 Soviet-led invasion, the Velvet Revolution, the break-up of Czechoslovakia, and the Czech Republic’s entry into European and transatlantic structures. Czechoslovak Radio played a crucial role in many of these historical moments.

Through unique archival photographs, Radio International Prague and Czech Center New York offer a glimpse into the life of Czech Radio, its past and present. Using QR codes, visitors can also listen to authentic historical recordings.

In addition to documenting milestone periods in the station’s history, the exhibition shows the development of broadcasting and transmission technology and presents Czech Radio not only as an institution with a century-old tradition but also as a modern public service medium.