ČT Déčko (shown on-air as ČT :D) is a Czech free-to-air television channel operated by Czech Television, specialising in children's content designed for young viewers 2 to 12 years of age. The channel began broadcasting on 31 August 2013, with Petr Koliha as its first executive director.[1]

ČT Déčko
CountryCzech Republic
Broadcast areaCzech Republic
Slovakia
Poland
Germany
Austria
USA
HeadquartersDéčkosvět,
Kavčí hory,
Prague, Czech Republic
Programming
Language(s)Czech
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerCzech Television
Sister channels
History
Launched31 August 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-31)
Links
WebsiteOfficial website
Availability
Terrestrial
DVB-T/T2MUX 21 (FTA) (HD)
Streaming media
iVysíláníWatch live
(Czech only)
ČT Déčko OnlineWatch live
(Czech & Slovak only)

ČT Déčko broadcasts from 6 am to 8 pm, and shares its frequency with cultural channel ČT art which uses the remaining hours.[1]

History

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The channel dedicated to young audience was a part of Petr Dvořák's candidate project for the position of CEO of Česká televize. In September 2012, executive director Petr Koliha, former artistic director of the Zlín Film Festival for Children and Youth, was appointed three months later as creative producer for children's work Barbara Johnson. Thanks to the transfer of children's and cultural programs to ČT: D and ČT art, the ČT2 program should focus more on educational and cognitive programs and strengthen Czech documentaries.[2]

Česká televize gradually registered possible names and graphic design of the logo at the Industrial Property Office. Possible suggestions included ČT Juni, ČT D, ČT children, ČT Hi, ČT mini, mini ČT, ČT hele and selected ČT :D, which is to symbolize a smile.[3]

Programming

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The station is open daily from 6:00 to 20:00, with the TV channel ČT art being broadcast on the same frequency between 8 pm and the second morning.[4] ČT :D is intended for two audience groups, namely for children aged 4–8 (57% of broadcasts) and for children aged 8–15 (43% of broadcasts).

Future

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Czech Television stated in 2015 that if ČT Déčko and ČT art proved to be successful, the two channels would broadcast from separate frequencies allowing them to broadcast one day.[1]

Availability

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Television broadcasts its program in multiplex 1a (which was created by extending the originally planned regional networks 7, 10, 20). From 9 October 2013 to 31 March 2018 it also spread its signal in the nationwide Multiplex 3, with the newly established Prima Krimi channel taking over. From 24 April 2018, ČT :D / art is available in Multiplex 1.[5] On 29 March 2018 it broadcasts in high definition in the transition network 11. ČT :D/ČT art HD is also available via satellite, cable TV and IPTV.

Criticism

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After launching the broadcast, the program ČT :D and, consequently, the sister program ČT art, which are broadcast on multiplex 1a, became a target of criticism due to the inability to tune this program.[6][7] The most frequent reasons are insufficient signal coverage or the necessary change in the antenna system.[8] Critics claim that the announced coverage of 80% of the territory of the Czech Republic by the multiplex 1a signal is unrealistic, and that even in areas where such coverage is already required, either a new antenna must be purchased, or the existing antenna must be redirected to a signal source, that again loses the signal from other Multiplexes.[9] The Chair of the Association of Directors and Screenwriters Ljuba Wenceslas wrote a complaint to the chairman of the Czech Television Council, Milan Uhda, to explain the situation.[10][11]

Broadcasting

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High-definition (HD) broadcasting via satellite was started on 1 November 2016 using Astra 3B-capacities.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Benediktová, Jana (21 February 2015). "Nalaďte si úsměv. Dětský kanál ČT :D bude velkou televizí v malém". ČT24 (in Czech). Czech Television. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. ^ Potůček, Jan (21 February 2013). "Dětský kanál ČT :D odstartuje 31. srpna. Od 20:00 ho vystřídá ČT art". digizone.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  3. ^ Potůček, Jan (5 February 2013). "ČT si registruje druhou várku log dětského kanálu: ČT děti, ČT mini a ČT hele". Digizone (in Czech). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  4. ^ Jab (21 February 2013). "ČT art | tolik kultury, kolik unesete". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  5. ^ "ČT doplní multiplex 1 o ČT:D/ČT art a omezí doplňkové služby". Parabola.cz (in Czech). 19 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Nenaladíme ČT Déčko, stěžují si lidé. Může za to pokrytí". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. 31 August 2013.
  7. ^ "ČT zahájila vysílání Déčka, lidé si však stěžují, že stanici nenaladí". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. 31 August 2013.
  8. ^ "ČT Déčko a Art nejde naladit i kvůli anténám, tvrdí technici". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. 1 September 2013.
  9. ^ "GLOSA: Jak naladíte dětský kanál ČT? Nijak, nebo musíte na střechu". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. 2 September 2013.
  10. ^ Janouš, Vilém (2 September 2013). "Nový kanál České televize doma nenaladil ani její ředitel Dvořák". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media.
  11. ^ "Vysvětlete, proč si lidé nenaladí vaše novinky, žádají ČT režiséři". Mladá fronta Dnes. Mafra. 2 September 2013.
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