Czech Radiokommunications are considering selling the transmitter on Ještěd

Liberec - The dominant feature of the Liberec Region and a national cultural monument on Ještěd faces a considerably uncertain future. The current owner - Czech Radiocommunications - has not ruled out a sale. The mountain hotel and transmitter on Ještěd may not serve its original purpose of broadcasting radio and television signals in a few years. The reason is the gradual digitization of radio and television. This is reported by today's Liberec supplement of Mladá fronta Dnes (MfD).
"We believe that television broadcasting in digital form will continue from Ještěd, the question is in what scope and with what intensity," said Martin Roztočil, director of the broadcasting services section, to the newspaper. Radiocommunications confirmed that they could imagine a scenario where, in the event of reduced operations, they would only be leasing Ještěd. However, Ještěd is not for sale at the moment. More about its future will be revealed at the autumn conference, where frequencies will be approved.
The future of the transmitter has already been discussed between the director of Czech Radiocommunications, Liberec Region Governor Petr Skokan, and Liberec Mayor Jiří Kittner. The building requires an expensive reconstruction, which the mountain hotel and restaurant will certainly not finance. There's a possibility that the region or Liberec would buy the building. "The city will definitely not buy it; fixing the city baths will be a big enough task for us," Kittner said. The governor is also speaking cautiously. "The question is where to get the money," noted Skokan, who does not hide his concerns about the future of the unique structure designed by architect Karel Hubáček.
Czech Radiocommunications purchased Ještěd in 2000 for 85 million crowns. The arrival of a strong investor was a salvation for the transmitter, which suffered from poor privatization. The company invested more than 30 million crowns in its restoration. However, Ještěd needs hundreds of millions. Not only for the reconstruction of the interior, which would allow it to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to new laws, Ještěd must be connected to the nearest sewage system, which is all the way to Liberec.