In Search of Efficiency

From 1 March 2002 the Managing Director of CT, Jiří Balvín, started to restructure Czech Television with the objective of achieving greater efficiency, economizing and a better organization of work. From May to July, the Managing Director, in accordance with the plan, changed the core organizational structure of CT in Prague, Brno and Ostrava. Within the restructuring process, in the summer of that year the international consulting company of KPMG started to work for Czech Television.

In the second half of 2002, Czech Television established itself as a medium strong in news since it had managed to deliver professional news service, highly appreciated by the expert public as well, during the two elections in the Czech Republic (in June for the House of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, in October and November for the Senate and local municipal councils), as well as during the permanent news reporting from the summer floods in the Czech Republic, from the USA after the September 11 attack on New York, and then again from Prague during the NATO summit. The News Editorial Office of CT soon experienced an extreme pressure and work load again when in March and April of 2003, they supported the thus-far greatest staff position abroad - covering the Second Gulf War. Among the special CT news reporters in the conflict region, Michal Kubal excelled as he delivered reports and comments directly from Baghdad, including for the CNN news channel..

In November, Managing Director Jiří Balvín presented the CT Council with a report from the KPMG consulting company, including a proposal for restructuring Czech Television. The Council acknowledged the report as the first complete analysis of the status at Czech Television, but criticized Balvín for his repeated proposals to keep Zdeněk Drahoš, the temporary Director of the Television Studio in Brno, in his position. The controversy between the Council and the Managing Director culminated on November 27 when he was recalled from his post. On the same day, the Council unanimously elected a temporary director of CT - the current Financial Director Petr Klimeš. The Council then announced a selection procedure for a new Managing Director.

In December Klimeš published his program declaration, wherein he stated his plan to stabilize conditions at CT and continue broadcasting a quality public service program. He decided to continue the cooperation with KPMG and at a press conference in January 2003 he presented the principles and content of restructuring projects, which should gradually introduce changes to the structure and operation of CT by the end of 2007, aiming at increasing its efficiency and prestige, with a considerable financial effect. The temporary term of office of Klimeš was extended after an unsuccessful selection of the Managing Director in February 2003, and Klimeš then became one of the 30 candidates who met the conditions of a new selection procedure for the Managing Director as declared by the CT Council on June 11, 2003.