Kanal 3
Kanal 3 is a Bulgarian television channel that originated as Sofia Kabel and has operated as a news and general-interest broadcaster.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Kanal 3, also known as Channel 3, is a Bulgarian television channel whose origins date to 1993, when it began broadcasting exclusively through the Sofia Kabel cable operator. The service was initially known as Sofia Kabel and retained that name until 1998, when it adopted the Kanal 3 identity. Its programming developed around news, current affairs, political discussion, commentary, entertainment and sports, giving it a profile distinct from a purely entertainment-oriented channel. Between 1998 and 2014, Kanal 3 became associated with a number of Bulgarian journalists and television personalities, including Sasho Dikov, Lili Marinkova, Yulian Vuchkov and Margarita Mihneva. Shows linked with this period included "1:1," "Yellowness," "The Inconvenient," "Out of Paradise" and "The Power of Fashion." These programs helped establish the channel as a platform for opinion-led and personality-driven television. At the end of 2013, the channel underwent its first major rebrand since its creation. It introduced hourly news bulletins and expanded its current-affairs identity. From 2014 to 2016, Kanal 3 also broadcast the Bulgarian Second Professional Football League and the finals of the Cup of the Bulgarian Amateur Football League. During the same period, it introduced additional programs such as "Every Afternoon with Chrissy," "The Day Live" with Maya Kostadinova, "Offensive" with Lubo Ognyanov and "Benovska Asks." The channel experienced a temporary interruption in December 2014 after a fire affected its studios. It resumed with a 16:9 presentation format in February 2015 and began broadcasting in high definition in September 2017. In December 2016, it expanded to terrestrial broadcasting in Sofia. Kanal 3 later became involved in a significant Bulgarian media-ownership transaction. In 2015, Delyan Peevski attempted to acquire the channel. Although the proposed transaction received approval from the Commission for Protection of Competition, it was not completed after public opposition. In February 2020, Kanal 3 became part of BSS Media Group, a media group associated in reporting with Peevski. Nova Broadcasting Group subsequently submitted acquisition documents covering Kanal 3 and other BSS assets in September 2020, and the transaction was approved on September 18 of that year. The channel's original identity was then temporarily retired. Nova Broadcasting Group announced that from January 4, 2021, Kanal 3 would be replaced by Nova News, a news-focused service linked to Nova Television. Kanal 3 stopped broadcasting news on December 14, 2020, aired reruns until its closure, and its website redirected to Nova Television's site. On March 3, 2023, Kanal 3 was relaunched as a separate channel from Nova News. The relaunched service's license was registered by the regional cable operator Dobrudzha Kabel. As of March 2025, the channel is reported as available through cable, satellite, IPTV and online distribution in Bulgaria.
History
Kanal 3 began in Bulgaria in 1993 as a television service distributed exclusively through the Sofia Kabel operator. The channel operated under the Sofia Kabel name until 1998, when it adopted Kanal 3. During the following years it developed a schedule combining news, current affairs, commentary, entertainment and sports. Between 1998 and 2014, its programming and public profile were associated with journalists and presenters including Sasho Dikov, Lili Marinkova, Yulian Vuchkov and Margarita Mihneva. Programs from this era included "1:1," "Yellowness," "The Inconvenient," "Out of Paradise" and "The Power of Fashion." At the end of 2013, Kanal 3 carried out a major rebrand and began providing news bulletins every hour. The change strengthened its identity as a news and current-affairs broadcaster. From 2014 through 2016, it held rights to broadcast the Bulgarian Second Professional Football League and the finals of the Cup of the Bulgarian Amateur Football League. It also added programs such as "Every Afternoon with Chrissy," "The Day Live," "Offensive" and "Benovska Asks," broadening its live and discussion-based schedule. A fire at the channel's studios caused a temporary cessation of broadcasting in December 2014. Kanal 3 later resumed in the 16:9 format in February 2015 and upgraded to HD distribution in September 2017. It began terrestrial broadcasting in Sofia in December 2016, in addition to its cable-based distribution. Ownership became a central issue in the channel's later history. Delyan Peevski attempted to purchase Kanal 3 in 2015. Although the Commission for Protection of Competition approved the proposed deal, it was not finalized following public opposition. In February 2020, Kanal 3 joined BSS Media Group, which was associated with Peevski. Nova Broadcasting Group filed documents in September 2020 seeking to acquire Kanal 3 along with other BSS assets. Regulatory approval was issued on September 18. Nova Broadcasting Group announced in December 2020 that Kanal 3 would be renamed Nova News from January 4, 2021. The planned service was designed as a news-focused continuation associated with Nova Television and retained several programs from Kanal 3, including "The Day Live," "Offensive" and "Patarinski LIVE." Kanal 3 stopped carrying news on December 14, 2020, aired repeats before closure, and its website redirected to Nova Television's website. The Kanal 3 name returned on March 3, 2023, when it was relaunched as a separate channel from Nova News. The new license was registered by Dobrudzha Kabel, a regional cable operator. By March 2025, the service was reported as available through cable, satellite, IPTV and web distribution.
- 2023
Relaunch as an independent service
[1]Kanal 3 returns as a separate channel from Nova News on March 3.
- 2021
Replacement by Nova News
[1]Nova Broadcasting Group replaces the Kanal 3 service with Nova News from January 4.
- 2020
Integration into BSS Media Group
[1]Kanal 3 becomes part of BSS Media Group in February.
- 2020
Nova acquisition approved
[1]The Commission for Protection of Competition approves Nova Broadcasting Group's acquisition of Kanal 3 and other BSS assets on September 18.
- 2017
HD broadcasting
[1]Kanal 3 begins broadcasting in high definition in September.
- 2016
Terrestrial launch in Sofia
[1]The channel begins terrestrial broadcasting in Sofia in December.
- 2015
Transition to 16:9
[1]Kanal 3 begins broadcasting in widescreen 16:9 format in February.
- 2014
Sports rights expansion
[1]The channel begins broadcasting the Bulgarian Second Professional Football League and finals of the Cup of the Bulgarian Amateur Football League.
- 2014
Studio fire
[1]A fire temporarily interrupts the channel's broadcasts.
- 2013
Major rebrand and hourly news
[1]Kanal 3 refreshes its identity and introduces news bulletins every hour.
Products and positioning
A Bulgarian news and general-interest television channel with a strong current-affairs, political discussion and live-programming profile, supplemented by sports and entertainment content.
Television broadcasting · 1993
Kanal 3 television channel
The core Kanal 3 service is a Bulgarian general-interest television channel centered on hourly news, current affairs, interviews and political discussion. Its schedule has also included entertainment programming and sports rights, including coverage of Bulgaria's second-tier professional football competition and amateur cup finals. The service has used cable, terrestrial, satellite, IPTV and online distribution at different stages of its history.
News programming · 2013
Hourly news bulletins
Hourly news became a defining programming feature after the channel's major rebrand at the end of 2013. The format supported Kanal 3's positioning as a continuously updated news and current-affairs outlet rather than a channel focused only on scheduled general entertainment.
Sports television · 2014
Sports broadcasting
Between 2014 and 2016, Kanal 3 carried broadcasts of the Bulgarian Second Professional Football League and the finals of the Cup of the Bulgarian Amateur Football League. These rights gave the channel a sports component alongside its news and discussion programming.
Controversies
2015
Contested proposed acquisition by Delyan Peevski
Delyan Peevski attempted to acquire Kanal 3 in 2015. The Commission for Protection of Competition approved the transaction, but the deal was not completed after public opposition. The episode formed part of wider public debate about media ownership and political influence in Bulgaria.
Brand decisions
2023
Relaunch of Kanal 3Product launchBackground
After the Kanal 3 identity had been replaced by Nova News, a separate operator sought to restore the channel brand.
Action taken
Kanal 3 relaunched as a separate channel on March 3, with its license registered by Dobrudzha Kabel.
Aftermath
By March 2025, the relaunched service was available through cable, satellite, IPTV and the web.
2021
Conversion into Nova NewsGeneration changeBackground
Following Nova Broadcasting Group's acquisition, the owner planned a news-focused service linked to Nova Television.
Action taken
Kanal 3 ceased its news broadcasts on December 14, 2020, and the channel was renamed Nova News from January 4, 2021.
Aftermath
Most of the original Kanal 3 service ended, although programs including "The Day Live," "Offensive" and "Patarinski LIVE" were retained in the successor service.
2020
Acquisition by Nova Broadcasting GroupM&ABackground
Kanal 3 had become part of BSS Media Group in February 2020. Nova Broadcasting Group subsequently sought to acquire Kanal 3 together with other BSS media assets.
Action taken
Nova Broadcasting Group submitted acquisition documents on September 1, and the Commission for Protection of Competition approved the transaction on September 18.
Aftermath
The channel was later replaced by Nova News, which retained several Kanal 3 programs.
2014
Expansion into Bulgarian football broadcastingOtherBackground
The channel sought to broaden its schedule beyond news and discussion programming.
Action taken
Kanal 3 broadcast the Bulgarian Second Professional Football League and finals of the Cup of the Bulgarian Amateur Football League.
Aftermath
Sports became an additional programming pillar during the 2014–2016 period.
2013
Repositioning around hourly newsStrategyBackground
Kanal 3 had operated under the same broad identity since its earlier Sofia Kabel and Kanal 3 phases and sought a stronger, more contemporary news profile.
Action taken
The channel carried out a major rebrand and introduced hourly news bulletins.
Aftermath
The change reinforced the channel's identity as a news and current-affairs broadcaster and was followed by additional live discussion programs.
Recent events
- 2023
Kanal 3 relaunches as a separate channel[1]
Product launch
Kanal 3 returned as a separate service from Nova News. Its license was registered by regional cable operator Dobrudzha Kabel.
- 2021
Kanal 3 is replaced by Nova News[1]
Product generation
Nova Broadcasting Group announced that Kanal 3 would become Nova News from January 4, 2021. Kanal 3 stopped news broadcasting on December 14, 2020, before its original service was retired.
- 2020
Kanal 3 joins BSS Media Group[1]
M&A
Kanal 3 became part of BSS Media Group in February, in an ownership change associated with Delyan Peevski.
- 2020
Nova Broadcasting Group receives approval to acquire Kanal 3[1]
M&A · Regulation
Nova Broadcasting Group submitted acquisition documents covering Kanal 3 and other BSS Media Group assets. The Commission for Protection of Competition approved the transaction on September 18.
- 2014
Fire temporarily interrupts Kanal 3 broadcasts[1]
Other
A fire at the channel's studios caused a temporary interruption in broadcasting during December.
- 2013
Kanal 3 undergoes its first major rebrand[1]
Product generation
The channel refreshed its identity and introduced hourly news bulletins, reinforcing its news and current-affairs positioning.
Sources1 sources
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