Open day, free concert, and illuminated buildings mark 100 years of Czech Radio this week

Czech Radio (ČRo) is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a series of events throughout the year. The anniversary will culminate in a free concert at Prague's Riegrovy Sady on May 18, the day that Czechoslovak Radio began regular broadcasting a hundred years ago. Mirai, Chinaski, Aneta Langerová, and Marek Ztracený are among the acts slated to perform.

Other events include an Open Doors Day of the radio complex in Prague's Vinohrady and the regional studios of Czech Radio on May 20, an exhibition of photographic panels from the Archive of the Czech Radio on May 10 to June 29, and an outdoor exhibition mapping the century-long history of radio through the memories of witnesses.

To mark the anniversary, the Petřín lookout and the Žižkov Tower will also be lit up in radio colors on May 18. The Symphony Orchestra of the Czech Radio will participate in the celebrations of 100 years of radio with several concerts at this year's festivals, including the Prague Spring Festival on May 18.

The current results of Radioprojekt's research on radio listenership in the Czech Republic for the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 recorded an increase in listening to the majority of Czech Radio stations and a record share of the Czech Radio in the radio market.

"ČRo has played an important role in the lives of several generations of listeners, educating, informing, entertaining, and broadening horizons. Czechoslovak, now Czech Radio, has had a long and varied journey during which it has also played an important role in the history of the country several times," said René Zavoral, CEO of ČRo in a news release.

The several-hour music marathon will start in Prague's Riegrový sady on Thursday, May 18 after 6 p.m.