24
A Slovak public-service television channel focused on news and rolling coverage of current affairs.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
24 is a Slovak public-service news television channel owned and operated by Slovenská televízia a rozhlas (STVR), Slovakia's state-funded public broadcaster. The channel was created during the early phase of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, after criticism that the public broadcaster's television services had been slow to report the conflict compared with Slovakia's principal commercial news channels. The launch was therefore both an editorial response to an acute news event and a structural expansion of the public broadcaster's television portfolio. The service began broadcasting at 6:00 a.m. on 28 February 2022. Its debut was brought forward substantially from the original plan, which had envisaged launching a dedicated news channel in autumn 2023. The initial service used the transmission capacity associated with Trojka, allowing the broadcaster to establish a news outlet quickly without waiting for a separate distribution arrangement. At first, the channel was intended to operate for only two weeks while the broadcaster assessed the continuing wartime news situation. Because the launch was organized under considerable time pressure, 24 initially went on air without a fully developed independent visual identity. Its programming also relied heavily on existing public-service news resources. Newscasts produced for Jednotka were simulcast at several scheduled times, including the morning, midday, afternoon and evening editions. The channel also carried news programming from Dvojka, including services in minority languages such as Hungarian. This arrangement enabled the broadcaster to extend the reach of content it already produced while building the new channel's own role. As the war continued and demand for continuous breaking-news coverage remained, the broadcaster abandoned the temporary concept and decided to make 24 a permanent service. A permanent broadcasting authorization was sought in late March 2022. The decision turned 24 from an emergency response into a continuing component of Slovakia's public-service news infrastructure. Its creation also affected the wider Slovak television market: commercial broadcaster JOJ subsequently developed JOJ 24, adding another dedicated news competitor to a sector that already included commercial news operations such as TA3. The channel's technical and organizational position changed again after Trojka was closed on 1 December 2022. With Trojka no longer operating, 24 became the public broadcaster's third television channel rather than occupying a temporary or borrowed position within the channel lineup. The broadcaster later became known as STVR following the institutional transition from RTVS, while 24 remained the public-service news outlet associated with the Slovak broadcaster. 24 primarily serves viewers in Slovakia and is positioned around news, live developments, public-affairs coverage and the distribution of the broadcaster's existing news bulletins. The available reference material does not establish a separate commercial ownership structure, a standalone founder, a specific headquarters address, or a detailed executive roster for the channel. It is consequently best understood as a channel brand within the Slovak public broadcaster rather than as an independent media company.
History
24 emerged from a debate about the Slovak public broadcaster's preparedness for fast-moving international crises. At the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, commercial Slovak channels including Markíza, JOJ and TA3 began reporting the outbreak at approximately 6:00 a.m. The public broadcaster's television services did not begin comparable coverage until around 7:30 a.m. Later that day, Jednotka was not providing rolling television news and instead used a limited text strip to convey basic information. The response generated criticism that the public broadcaster had been among the slowest Slovak media organizations to cover the event and raised broader questions about its role as a public institution. The broadcaster responded by announcing that a dedicated news service would launch on 28 February 2022. This was a major acceleration of the existing timetable: the channel had initially been expected in autumn 2023. 24 began at 6:00 a.m. on the announced date, using the channel capacity associated with Trojka. The emergency character of the rollout was visible in the lack of a fully prepared independent graphics package. Rather than waiting for a complete new production system, the broadcaster assembled the service from existing news operations. During its initial phase, 24 carried several Jednotka news editions in simulcast, including the morning, midday, afternoon and evening bulletins. It also used news material from Dvojka, including minority-language output such as the Hungarian service. The first plan was for the channel to operate for two weeks. Continued developments in the war, however, led the broadcaster to revise that plan. 24 was retained as a permanent channel, and a permanent license was requested toward the end of March 2022. The decision also had competitive implications. JOJ, which had registered the JOJ 24 trademark in 2017, moved toward launching its own dedicated news channel, creating a new commercial competitor in the Slovak news-television market. 24 therefore became part of a broader expansion of dedicated news broadcasting rather than remaining solely an emergency wartime experiment. On 1 December 2022, Trojka closed. This enabled 24 to occupy a continuing place as the public broadcaster's third television channel. The channel was initially developed under RTVS, the predecessor institution of STVR. Following the institutional change to Slovenská televízia a rozhlas, STVR is identified as the channel's owner and operator. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of later programming changes, named channel executives, ratings, financial performance or a separate corporate structure. Its documented history is consequently centered on its rapid wartime launch, conversion from temporary to permanent service, and integration into Slovakia's public-service television lineup.
- 2022
Channel announced in response to wartime news criticism
[1]The public broadcaster announced a dedicated news channel after criticism that its services had been slower than commercial broadcasters to cover the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- 2022
24 begins broadcasting
[1]24 started broadcasting at 6:00 a.m. on 28 February using Trojka's channel capacity.
- 2022
Permanent operation approved in principle
[1]The broadcaster changed the service from a planned two-week operation into a permanent news channel and sought a permanent license in late March.
- 2022
Trojka closes and 24 becomes the third channel
[1]After Trojka ended operations on 1 December, 24 became the public broadcaster's third television channel.
Products and positioning
A Slovak public-service news channel designed to provide timely, continuous coverage of domestic and international current affairs.
News television · 2022
24 television channel
The core 24 service is a Slovak public-service television channel focused on breaking news, rolling coverage and current affairs. Its early schedule combined newly established news output with simulcasts of Jednotka bulletins and selected Dvojka services. Minority-language programming, including Hungarian-language news, formed part of the inherited public-service content carried by the channel.
Brand decisions
2022
Accelerated launch of a dedicated news channelProduct launchBackground
The public broadcaster faced criticism after commercial channels began reporting the invasion of Ukraine earlier and more continuously than its own television services.
Action taken
It launched 24 at 6:00 a.m. on 28 February 2022, using Trojka's existing channel capacity and relying initially on available broadcaster news resources.
Aftermath
The launch was initially presented as a two-week arrangement but was later made permanent as the war continued.
- JOJ — The development influenced JOJ's move toward launching its own dedicated news service, JOJ 24.
2022
Conversion from temporary service to permanent channelStrategyBackground
24 had been conceived as a short-term response to the urgent need for continuous news coverage during the invasion of Ukraine.
Action taken
The broadcaster abandoned the two-week limit, decided to retain 24 permanently and requested a permanent license in late March.
Aftermath
The decision established 24 as a continuing part of the Slovak public broadcaster's television portfolio.
Recent events
- 2022
24 launches as an accelerated Slovak public-service news channel[1]
Product launch · Other
The broadcaster launched 24 at 6:00 a.m. on 28 February 2022, bringing forward plans for a dedicated news channel after criticism of the public broadcaster's response to the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- 2022
Temporary 24 service becomes permanent[1]
Other
Originally planned as a two-week operation using Trojka's capacity, the channel was retained permanently as the war continued and the broadcaster reassessed its need for continuous news coverage.
- 2022
Trojka closure changes 24's place in the channel lineup[1]
Other
Following Trojka's closure on 1 December, 24 became the public broadcaster's third television channel.
Sources2 sources
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