Literary programmes on TV
Literary programmes on the public broadcaster Česká televize (Czech Television) include Televizní čítanka české literatury (TV Textbook of Czech Literature) or Knížka do batůžku (A Book for the Backback) which usually contain older shows from the TV’s archive. Literature occasionally features in news programmes in the culture sections for instance as interviews with contemporary literary figures or editors of new periodicals. On rare occasions, writers are invited to entertainment shows such as Uvolněte se, prosím (Relax, Please) or Hyde park.
On the occassion of the Magnesia Litera award ceremony, which is broadcast on TV, several short features of nominated authors are produced and broadcast in prime time. Likewise, the TV also covers the State Award for Literature. Another literary-TV opportunity is the project Kniha mého srdce (The Book of My Heart) inspired by the British show The Big Read. Most of the programmes can be viewed for free via Czech TV’s i-broadcast (http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ivysilani).
Major shows
Čtenářský deník (Readers’ Diary)
Brief, thirteen-minute documentary feature where an important literary or cultural figure recommends one book by a contemporary Czech author. Prepared by the agency and publishing house Větrné mlýny since 2009 (and featuring the actual author).
Česko jedna báseň (Czechia: One Poem)
Contemporary Czech poets read their own and their favourite authors’ poems (Master, young hopeful). The eight-minute show is produced by Větrné mlýny. "The show aims to create a freewheeling TV encyclopedia of contemporary Czech poetry," explains Petr Minařík of Větrné mlýny.
Knižní svět (Book World)
Thirty-minute show featuring book news. Prepared by the Centre for Music and Theatre Production.
Třistatřicettři (Three Hundred and Thirty Three)
An hour-long entertainment programme about literature presented by Jan Lukeš and Jan Schmid. Produced by the Centre for News and Documentaries.
Evropa jedna báseň (Europe: One Poem)
Evropa jedna báseň (Europe – One Poem) is a new (2011) co-production by Větrné mlýny and Czech TV. The TV series consists of 27 episodes focusing on poets from 27 EU countries (one author per country). The series was directed by leading Czech and Slovak documentary makers including Gogola, Kerekes, Králová, Pitínský, Morávek and Rychlík.
