Lenka Hrivnáková, Author at The Association of Commercial Television

CZECH TELEVISION RETAINED THEIR LEAD IN APRIL, WHILE NOVA LEADS IN PRIME TIME AND AMONG YOUNGER VIEWERS

The rankings in the television market remain unchanged. In April, Czech Television once again topped the ratings among viewers aged 15 and over, whilst Nova retained first place among younger viewer groups and during prime time.

In the over-15s demographic, Czech Television’s channels remained the most-watched television group in all-day viewing in the fourth month of this year, with a total share of 29.10%. This represents a year-on-year increase of almost 1.8 percentage points. The Nova group retains the lead in the 15–54 and 18–69 viewer groups, as well as during prime time across all key groups (15, 15–54, 18–69). This is shown by official ATO data for April 2026. Compared to April last year, it was mainly the Czech Television channels that improved, whilst the commercial groups lagged slightly behind their April results from last year.

ČT2 and news channels make a leap

The growth of news channels continued in April. ČT24 recorded a year-on-year increase in its share of 0.71 percentage points, with its share exceeding the 5% mark (5.08%, CS 15). The channel of the month was ČT2, which increased its share to 4.59% (0.74 pp). The documentaries Modrá krev and Žlutou žábou až do Mongolska were the main drivers of this success. The main channel, ČT1, also performed well, with its share rising by 0.5 percentage points year-on-year to 16.06% (15). The news channel CNN Prima News also continues to grow, with its share rising by 0.5 percentage points compared to April last year, to 2.8% (15). The April figures also confirm an increasing share for Prima Krimi (0.2 pp to 4.8%).

Programme of the month: Buldok z Poděbrad

The most-watched programmes in April were the series Buldok z Poděbrad (Nova) with 1.25 million viewers 15 , Odznak Vysočina (Nova) with 1.16 million viewers and Televizní noviny with 1.14 million viewers (15 ).

Source: mediaguru.cz

SPANISH POLICE DISMANTLE KODISPAIN PIRACY NETWORK

Spain’s Guardia Civil has dismantled Kodispain, one of the main platforms accused of providing unauthorised access to live LaLiga football matches.

The operation followed a complaint from LaLiga and Telefónica, as the Spanish authorities continue to take enforcement action against illegal sports streaming. According to the Guardia Civil, the network distributed instructions, manuals and links to live Spanish First and Second Division matches through a messaging channel with more than 26,000 active followers. One man is under investigation over alleged offences against intellectual property and consumers.

Investigators analysed more than 91,000 files and around 25,000 lines of code to reconstruct the system and identify its operational structure.

Authorities also warned that installing unknown software linked to piracy services could expose users to malware, data theft and unauthorised access to their devices.

The Guardia Civil said the takedown was made possible through cooperation between the rightsholders and specialist public bodies.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCIAL TELEVISIONS HAS ENTERED ITS TENTH YEAR OF EXISTENCE; MAREK SINGER REMAINS AS PRESIDENT

This spring marked the ninth anniversary of the Association of Commercial Television, which, during its existence, has become a respected voice for commercial broadcasters and a reliable partner in both professional and legislative debates. The AKTV continues to participate in key legislative processes that affect the operations of commercial television, is actively involved in the fight against internet piracy, and promotes awareness of television as a trustworthy and effective advertising medium. Marek Singer remains at the helm of the Association of Commercial Television, which brings together the Nova, Prima and Óčko television groups, for another year.

The main focus of AKTV’s activities this year will be copyright protection, with a particular emphasis on public education. The cornerstone of AKTV’s preventive and awareness-raising activities is the launch of the information website NormalneLegalne.cz, which offers a catalogue of legal content sources as well as education on copyright issues. The aim of the project is to explain clearly why respect for copyright is important and how viewers can easily and safely access legal content. This year, we anticipate the involvement of further partners from among rights holders, the preparation of comprehensive educational materials and, last but not least, an information campaign.

“Over the past few years, we have been very active in combating the piracy of our protected content, which remains one of our priorities this year as well. However, we would like to complement our successful legal actions with preventive measures. Piracy services are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and it can be difficult for ordinary viewers to distinguish them from legitimate services. That is why we want to focus more on education this year,”

says Marek Singer, President of AKTV.

In addition to copyright protection, the Association of Commercial Television Stations systematically promotes television as an effective and safe advertising medium that has long enjoyed high levels of attention and trust from viewers. Through the ScreenVoice.cz website, it regularly publishes interesting news, research findings and information on trends in television advertising and the world of total video, covering both the Czech market and international developments.

About ScreenVoice ( www.ScreenVoice.cz)

On the ScreenVoice.cz website, readers will find inspiration, trends, research and news about developments in the world of television in the Czech Republic and abroad. Each month is dedicated to a single theme, for which original content is prepared. Readers can look forward to magazine-style articles on the very first television advert, Christmas or Valentine’s Day advertising specials, or reflections on advertising during the Covid pandemic or the war in Ukraine. The theme of the month is complemented by a calendar of industry events, a glossary of terms from the world of total video, and the popular ‘Myths and Facts about TV’ section, which provides a range of data refuting the most common myths about television. A separate category is the AKTV events archive, where visitors can find all recordings of speakers’ presentations from the last six years.

About Normálně legálně ( www.NormalneLegalne.cz)

The Normálnělegálně.cz website is an information portal that helps users navigate the range of legal online services for watching films and TV series, listening to music or reading books in the Czech Republic, whilst also raising awareness of copyright protection. In addition to an overview of legal content, it also offers news, answers to frequently asked questions, a glossary of terms and further explanatory information on copyright and the impacts of internet piracy.

CNN DESCRIBES ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIMA AS ONE OF ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL

Wallid Chamak, a representative of CNN International Commercial, described CNN Prima News as one of the most successful projects in the field of international cooperation.

According to the management of the FTV Prima group, the CNN Prima News project now goes beyond the scope of a traditional television station and operates as a multi-platform service reaching audiences across television, online platforms and social media. A key factor in its development is the changing behaviour of the audience. This was stated by Lukáš Kubát, CEO of FTV Prima, at the start of the second annual Money, money, money conference, which CNN Prima News is hosting at its headquarters on Monday.

“Today, the viewer decides how the media transforms. They are not merely passive recipients, but actively choose when and where to watch content. That is why we treat content as a product and create various formats, ranging from television broadcasts to podcasts and short videos on social media,” said Kubát.

According to him, the media market is governed by the principle of “money follows attention”, meaning that investment follows audience attention. This forces the media to expand distribution into digital channels and build broader content ecosystems that combine linear broadcasting with online platforms.

The strategic partnership with CNN also plays an important role in the project’s development. Wallid Chamak, a representative of CNN International Commercial, described CNN Prima News as one of the most successful projects within the framework of international cooperation.

“In just six years, they have managed to build a strong brand in a competitive environment. Credibility is key – without it, no news outlet can function today,” said Chamak. He also highlighted the emphasis on creative formats and the ability to reach audiences across platforms.

CNN Prima News’s share of the television market is targeting the 3% mark in the over-15s demographic, it was further reported. CNN Prima News demonstrated its reach across the population by reaching 6.7 million people across television, the internet and social media during its pre-election coverage.

Source: mediaguru.cz

SPANISH COURT STRIKES RECORD BLOW TO MAJOR ILLEGAL IPTV NETWORK

One of Europe’s largest illegal IPTV operations has been dealt a major blow after Spain’s National Court convicted the operators of an international piracy network that distributed films, TV channels and live football.

The ruling includes prison terms, multi-million euro fines and compensation, and has been described by rightsholders as one of the biggest anti-piracy judgments yet seen in Spain.

According to LaLiga and other parties involved in the case, the network served more than a million paying users globally, operated through close to 1,000 websites and generated more than €15 million in illegal revenue. Spanish business daily Cinco Días reported that the operation worked through brands including RapidIPTV and relied on infrastructure spread across 13 countries.

The alleged ringleader accepted a 23-month prison sentence, an €8.7 million fine and confiscation of seized assets, while the court also ordered around €12 million in compensation for affected rightsholders. The total financial impact of the ruling has been put at more than €43 million once fines and damages are combined.

The case dates back to a 2020 investigation and takedown, but the latest court decision closes what ACE, LaLiga and other complainants say has been a landmark prosecution. The coalition behind the action included ACE, LaLiga, Telefónica, Mediapro, Sky, EGEDA and Nagravision, with the investigation led by Spain’s National Police and supported by Europol and Eurojust.

“Collaboration between the Spanish National Police and the private sector is central to ACE’s strategy to detect, deter, and dismantle digital piracy networks,” said Larissa Knapp, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Protection Officer at the Motion Picture Association (MPA). “This case shows that when we work together, major illegal operations can be disrupted and those responsible are held accountable.”

José Luis Gómez Pidal, Chief Inspector of the Spanish National Police (UDEV), added,

“this is a landmark ruling against one of the largest international criminal organizations dedicated to audiovisual piracy. The investigation has been groundbreaking in exposing the inner workings of these structures and introducing new technological methods to the Spanish judicial system. At the same time, the case has revealed how digital piracy is intertwined with complex money laundering networks in various countries, using multiple channels to support and divert the enormous profits generated.”

The judgment is significant not only because of the scale of the network, but because it underlines the growing willingness of Spanish courts to impose severe financial penalties in large-scale piracy cases. It also comes just days after Spain moved to intensify real-time blocking of illegal sports streams, highlighting how anti-piracy enforcement in the market is becoming both more aggressive and more coordinated.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

THE NUMBER OF CYBERCRIME CASES HAS RISEN BY A RECORD 37 PER CENT YEAR-ON-YEAR

The number of cybercrime cases rose by 37 per cent year-on-year in March. Investigators recorded a record 2,533 cases in March, Ondřej Moravčík, a spokesperson for the Czech Police Headquarters, told ČTK today. For internet users, the greatest risk comes from fraudulent bankers or police officers. Since the start of the year, they have caused losses amounting to 322 million crowns. Women are the most frequent victims. The average age of victims is 46. Perpetrators most often carry out attacks via mobile phones, the police stated on the X network.

“We have a sad record here. This March is the worst month in history in terms of cybercrime,” the police headquarters reported. “At this rate, we will reach last year’s figures by mid-October,” police officers added on the X network.

Since the start of the year, criminal investigators have recorded 6,322 cases of cybercrime. In the first three months of 2025, fraudsters committed 4,766 criminal offences online. Last year, there were 21,137 cases of cybercrime online.

According to a spokesperson, the majority of cases involve various types of fraud, with around 3,500 committed since the start of the year. Of these, fake bankers and police officers committed 728 frauds. The highest loss in a single case amounted to 24 million crowns. The average loss per victim is 721,546 CZK.

According to criminal investigators, the most risky tool is the mobile phone. “Please do not disclose your card details to anyone, do not send any money to police officers or bankers over the phone, and hang up immediately on any suspicious calls,” they warned today on the X network.

According to the police, cybercrime is criminal activity committed in the field of information and communication technologies, including computer networks. It includes, among other things, hacking, which is unauthorised access to a computer system; various types of fraud targeting individuals, companies and their employees; fraudulent online shops; copyright infringement; sexual offences, including procuring and human trafficking; and blackmail and stalking.

Source: ceskenoviny.cz

IT WILL SOON BE MANDATORY IN THE EU TO LABEL CONTENT GENERATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

New rules on the transparency of so-called artificial intelligence will come into force in the European Union on 2 August this year. It will be necessary to label content generated by large language models (LLMs), provide information about deepfakes, and alert users that they are communicating with AI. The aim is to reduce the risk of misuse of this technology, manipulation, misleading content, fraud and so on.

The new measures form part of the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). Its individual provisions are coming into force gradually; thanks in part to the Czech Republic’s efforts, some sectionshave beenmitigated or postponed.

Jana Vorlíček Soukupová from the law firm Dentons summarised the situation as follows:

The new rules primarily concern generative artificial intelligence, i.e. systems that create text, images, audio or video content. They are intended to ensure that it is clearly distinguishable when content has been created by a human and when by an algorithm. AI is capable of creating content that is almost indistinguishable from reality. The regulation therefore introduces a simple principle – people have the right to know when content has been created by artificial intelligence or when they are communicating with AI rather than a human.

Under the new rules, providers of AI systems (such as OpenAI) must ensure that all outputs – text, images, audio or video – containa machine-readable label indicating that they were created or modified by artificial intelligence. Typically, this will involve metadata, digital watermarks, cryptographic tags or other technical identifiers embedded directly into the file. Technical labelling is key. It will enable social media platforms, search engines, content verification tools, the media and other digital platforms to automatically recognise that content has been created by artificial intelligence.

In addition to technical labelling, a requirement for visible labelling of outputs for end-users will also be introduced from August 2026. Certain entities deploying AI systems will be required to label these outputs properly, clearly and recognisably. This applies in particular to so-called deepfakes – imitations of real people or events created by artificial intelligence – as well as to content intended to inform the public. The rules on how to label content are currently being finalised, but it is expected that this will involve visual icons, text labels, verbal warnings, or messages in captions.

Another change will affect interactive systems such as chatbots and virtual assistants. If a person is communicating with an AI system, they must be clearly informed of this from the very first interaction. Transparency is a fundamental prerequisite for trust in the digital environment. A user should never find themselves in a situation where they believe they are communicating with a human, but are in fact being responded to by an algorithm.

The obligation of transparency is imposed on developers, suppliers and operators of AI systems by Article 50 of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), adopted in 2024. Rules for the detection and identification of AI-generated content, including deepfakes and communication with chatbots, will come into force at the beginning of August 2026. The European Commission is therefore preparing a Code of Practice on the transparency of AI-generated content, which is intended to help fulfil these obligations in practice and is due to be finalised in June 2026.

The second draft of the code, published in mid-March, defines, among other things, technical standards for labelling AI content, such as metadata or digital watermarks. The Code consists of two parts. The first contains rules for providers of AI systems regarding the detection and labelling of AI-generated content. The second part then sets out guidelines for labelling deepfakes, addressed to entities implementing AI systems.

One of the fundamental principles of the code is multi-layered labelling of AI-generated content for AI system providers, i.e. the use of multiple techniques in combination. In addition, providers should make tools available to users for detecting AI-generated or manipulated content. For the labelling of deepfake content, the code proposes the introduction of an “AI” icon.

Source: lupa.cz

RIVAL BROADCASTERS PRIMA AND NOVA HAVE JOINED FORCES TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ONLINE HATES

Rival broadcaster Prima has joined TV Nova’s campaign to combat hate speech on social media.

Rival broadcasters Prima and Nova have jointly spoken out against the hate directed at their presenters and actors in recent years. Alongside the criticism that is a natural part of their work, these TV personalities are subjected to words full of hatred, vulgarity, humiliation and threats. Prima has therefore joined TV Nova’s ‘Hate is not an opinion’ initiative. Kateřina Kotalová informed ČTK of this on behalf of Prima.

“Competition is put aside for the moment. This is something that doesn’t concern just one television station. We stand by our people and refuse to stand by and watch as they are subjected to hatred that crosses every line. Hate is not an opinion and must not become the norm,” said Blanka Bumbálková on behalf of Prima.

It is precisely this reality that the ‘Hate is not an opinion’ campaign, launched by Nova, draws attention to. The advert features well-known personalities reading aloud authentic messages they commonly encounter on their social media. The video was viewed by more than three million people within the first 48 hours.

“We appreciate that FTV Prima has decided to join our initiative. As the most significant media houses in the Czech Republic, we feel a shared responsibility for fostering civil public debate. It is a clear signal that, when it comes to fundamental ethical principles, respect and decency, we can stand on the same side and, for a moment, forget that we are competitors,” said Michal Prokeš, Head of PR Communications at TV Nova.

“We often speak to the same audiences, we influence the same communities, and we believe that it is precisely this united voice that has the power to at least steer the shared space on social media – and beyond – in a sensible direction,” he added.

Both television groups are actively supporting the initiative across their platforms – sharing it on social media, giving it space on their news websites, and dedicating airtime to it in television news and reports. The initiative’s official website is www.hejtneninazor.cz.

Last year, Nova was the most-watched television channel among viewers aged 15 and over, with an average audience share of 18 per cent; ČT1 came second with 16 per cent, and Prima’s main channel had a share of 10.8 per cent.

Source: mediaguru.cz

FASTLY AND LALIGA PARTNER ON AI ANTI-PIRACY SOLUTION

Fastly and LaLiga have teamed up to develop new technology aimed at tackling illegal streaming of live sports.

The collaboration focuses on real-time detection and removal of pirated streams, with LaLiga estimating piracy costs its clubs between $700 million (€645 million) and $800 million (€735 million) annually.

The two companies began working together in 2025, responding to the scale of illegal streaming activity, with numerous unauthorised streams appearing during matchdays. As part of the partnership, Fastly has developed an AI-driven detection system that uses proprietary content signals to identify illegal streams as they occur.

The move comes as the industry continues to grapple with the scale of live sports piracy. A 2025 study by Grant Thornton found at least 10.8 million unauthorised retransmissions of live events in 2024, with more than 81% never taken down and only 2.7% addressed within the first 30 minutes.

Fastly said its approach enables platforms to remove illegal content with greater precision, reducing the time pirated streams remain available while avoiding broader measures such as regional blocking.

Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, said the league had already reduced piracy of its streams in Spain by 60% during the 2024/25 season through a combination of legal, educational and technological measures, supported by partners including Fastly.

Kelly Shortridge, chief product officer at Fastly, said the company’s strategy is designed to protect content without disrupting legitimate viewing, adding that the partnership reflects a broader effort to develop scalable anti-piracy solutions with industry stakeholders.

Fastly and LaLiga said they are also working with other technology providers, publishers and regulators to develop best practices and software tools that can detect and disable illegal streams while preserving legitimate traffic.

Source: broadbandtvnews.com

TV NOVA HAS LAUNCHED AN ANTI-HATE CAMPAIGN, ENLISTING THE HELP OF WELL-KNOWN FIGURES

The campaign emphasises that the line between criticism and abuse is crucial, and that anonymity on social media does not mean impunity.

The TV Nova group has launched a new wave of its“Hate is not an opinion”campaign, which draws attention to the growing problem of hate speech on social media and its impact on mental health. It is collaborating on the project with the organisations Safezona, Linka bezpečí and Nepanikař.

The campaign, produced by Barletta, is based on a confrontation between the online and offline worlds. In the advert, well-known personalities read real hateful comments that people have sent them on social media, and subsequently invite their authors to a face-to-face meeting. However, none of those invited turned up.

The faces of the campaign include Jiří Langmajer, Sandra Nováková, Martha Issová, Patricie Solaříková, Kateřina Pechová and Dominik Vršanský. The campaign was directed by documentary filmmaker Marie Magdalena Kochová.

According to representatives of TV Nova, the campaign aims to build on the previous successful wave and reopen a topic that concerns not only public figures but also ordinary users. According to experts, hateful comments contribute to anxiety, stress and feelings of isolation, particularly among young people.

Source: mediaguru.cz

ON THE MEDIA IN TURBULENT TIMES. THE 21ST ANNUAL DIGIMEDIA CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE IN PRAGUE IN JUNE

Will the government abolish licence fees and introduce a new funding model for Czech Television and Czech Radio? To what extent do streaming services threaten traditional television broadcasting? How does artificial intelligence help the media? And how are the new radio stations faring two years after the auction of frequencies for digital broadcasting? These are the main questions of the 21st edition of the DIGIMEDIA 2026 conference on media, advertising and digitalisation, which will take place on Wednesday 3 June 2026 in the Congress Hall of Czech Television in Prague’s Kavčí Hory district.

The conference is organised by the Association of Czech Advertising Agencies and Marketing Communication (AČRA MK) with the support of partners and under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř, the Czech Telecommunications Office, the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting, the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and Czech Television. “We have decided to open this year’s event with a session dedicated to the funding of public service media, moderated by Daniel Stach. This is a topic that affects society as a whole,” says Pavel Brabec, President of AČRA MK.

Finnish experience with public service media funding

In addition to representatives from Czech Television and Czech Radio, the discussion on the future of public service media will also be attended by Marit af Björkesten, Director General of the Finnish public broadcaster Yleisradio (YLE). Invited to the discussion are Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř (Motoristé sobě), his predecessor Martin Baxa (ODS), Patrik Nacher (Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies), Ondřej Babka (ANO), Deputy Chair of the Chamber of Deputies’ Media Committee, and David Smoljak, Chair of the Senate Committee on the Media.

Representatives of the commercial media have also been invited: Marek Singer, President of the Association of Commercial Television Stations, and Jiří Hrabák, Chairman of the Association of Private Broadcasters. Marek Maďarič, former Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic, will share his experience with the introduction of the so-called ‘plug-in law’. “The DIGIMEDIA 2026 conference is taking place at a time when the government is preparing an amendment to the law that will fundamentally transform the funding of public service media. There has been no wider public debate on this proposal so far. We want to change that,” adds Pavel Brabec.

Does Oneplay rule them all? How streaming is transforming the television market

The session on television broadcasting and streaming services will focus on the transformation of distribution platforms. IPTV has already overtaken traditional antenna reception in the Czech Republic. What does this mean for network operators and television station operators? The conference will also address the issue of the concentration of sports rights, following the move of most premium sports content to the Oneplay service, which is both a competitor and a partner to television broadcasters.

Discussions will also focus on the future of linear television in the era of video-on-demand and the advent of 5G Broadcast technology. Will a viable business model be found for it? Attention will also be given to the topic of audience measurement, which this year has expanded to include viewing outside the home. What impact does this have on the television advertising market? Is measurement shifting from people meters to big data?

AI and digital radio

A separate session will focus on the impact of artificial intelligence on media houses. Some European media groups have already announced extensive restructuring. Is this the beginning of a deeper transformation of the entire sector? How is AI changing media strategies? How can content be protected against unauthorised use? And are we facing a fundamental transformation of the internet as we know it today? The conference will also highlight specific examples of AI usage, such as in the fight against fraud, and will explore the impact of AI on media security, infrastructure and the economy.

Two years after the auction of frequencies for digital radio, the market is gradually changing. What impact are the new networks having on the market structure and its economy? The discussion will also focus on audience measurement, which now utilises audio matching via mobile apps. Is this a fundamental shift, or a source of further uncertainty? Currently, only one in five households has digital radio. How can this trend be reversed, and what will the future of radio broadcasting look like in the face of competition from streaming services?

The partners of the 21st DIGIMEDIA 2026 conference are Czech Television, Czech Radio, the Czech Telecommunications Office, České Radiokomunikace, the Association of Mobile Network Operators, the Association of Communication Agencies and others. The media partners are Averia, Marketing & Media magazine and the websites MediaGuru.cz and Televizniweb.cz.

A detailed programme, list of speakers and registration are available at www.acra-mk.cz.

Source: mam.cz

‘THE TRAITORS HAVE TAUGHT US TO DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY,’ SAYS PRIMA’S NEW BOSS. AND HE’S AIMING FOR A MILLION SUBSCRIBERS

Lukáš Kubát has been at the helm of the second commercial TV channel since last autumn. He aims to reach one million subscribers on the Prima streaming platform.

You can read an interview with him in CzechCrunch,covering his work within the Prima Group, the Prima Plus platform, and current and future trends in content .

Source: cc.cz