Czech TV reveals 8 candidates for top job

The Czech Television Council has published the official list of people who have submitted valid applications for the top job at the public broadcaster.

A total of 8 candidates are taking part in the selection process. Thirteen applications were received, but five people did not meet the basic criteria. For comparison, the previous election in 2017 received 12 applications, while in 2011 there were 36 applications (four of which did not meet the requirements).

Some of this year's applicants have tried their luck in previous elections for the position of director general. Former foreign correspondent Jiří František Potužník, for example, is running for the fourth time (previously in 2009, 2011 and 2017).

The members of the Czech Television Council will now examine the applications and projects. At the meeting on 17 May 2023, they will decide on the five finalists who will be invited to a public hearing on 7 June 2023. The Council will then vote on who will lead Czech Television for the next six years from 1 October 2023.

Ondřej Cón: A 30-year-old entrepreneur from the Stodůlky district of Prague. An unknown to the media, he graduated from the University of Finance and Administration. Further details about him are not publicly available.

Petr Dvořák: The current director general since 1 September 2011. He is Vice-President of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and a member of its Executive Board. He has held positions at TV Nova and PPF Group, and was Executive Director of the B.I.G. marketing company.

Pavel Hřídel: According to his LinkedIn profile, he has been crisis manager at Batist Medical since January. Before that he was director and chairman of the Strakonice Heating Plant. He has held management positions at 4U Consulting CZ and AstenJohnson, and is a graduate of the Košice Military Aviation School.

Martin Konrád: Former general director of TV Prima from January 2013 to April 2014. He is currently the director of the MMB media agency and has held other notable positions, including general director of the Association of Regional Television. In 2017, he was a candidate for the position of Director General of Czech Television.

Jiří František Potužník: A former foreign correspondent for Czech Television in Brussels, he has recently been associated with the Czech Republic's participation in the EXPO world exhibition. He has held various positions related to the EXPO and has participated in television documentaries.

Jan Souček: He has been the director of the Brno studio of Czech Television since 2014. Previously, he was the editor of Czech Radio newscasts and held various other positions at ČT Brno and in PR agencies. He has a background in law and has worked as an editor for TV Nova and Radio Krokodýl.

Jan Štern: He was a producer of television programmes and series from 1994 to 2018. He participated in the creation of numerous programmes and series. Before 1989, he edited the samizdat magazine Prostor and worked on the domestic editorial board of the exiled Listy.

Ondřej Vrbík: Freelance architect from Lipník nad Bečvou. He studied architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague and has never worked in the media. Last year he ran for the Lipník Municipal Council as an independent candidate on the KDU-ČSL list.