Nova TV

Nova TV is a Croatian free-to-air television network launched on 28 May 2000. It was the first commercial television network in Croatia to receive a national broadcasting concession, marking an important change in a television market previously dominated by the public broadcaster Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT). The network combines daily news, locally produced scripted and unscripted programming, acquired international series and films, children's content, and selected sports rights. The channel's schedule typically places children's and acquired programming in morning hours, repeats and additional series during the daytime, and news and original entertainment in prime time. Its principal news program, Dnevnik Nove TV, has been broadcast daily since 2005 and became a major competitor to HRT's central evening news. By 2010, it had overtaken Dnevnik HRT in reported viewership, establishing Nova TV as a significant source of Croatian television news. Nova TV has also played a visible role in the development of commercial entertainment television in Croatia. It introduced Croatian viewers to international reality formats including Survivor and Temptation Island, and produced local adaptations such as Story Supernova Music Talents, Hrvatski idol, and Supertalent. The network's long-running Supertalent, based on the Got Talent format, became one of its signature shows. Nova TV also revived Ples sa zvijezdama for its schedule and launched a new version of Survivor in 2022 after the format had previously appeared on other Croatian broadcasters. Locally produced fiction has included the sitcoms Naša mala klinika and Bumerang, while the network has acquired English-language and Turkish dramas, American series, feature films, and animated programs with Croatian dubbing. The broadcaster has been particularly associated with Turkish drama series since the 2010s and with children's programming such as Dora the Explorer, Bratz, Peppa Pig, and Winx Club. A specialized children's channel, Mini TV, was launched in 2008. Sports have formed another part of Nova TV's programming mix. The network has carried events including alpine skiing, selected combat-sports broadcasts, English football, UEFA Champions League matches, and Croatian national football fixtures. In 2018 it acquired rights to broadcast Croatia national team football matches through 2028, according to the cited reference material. Central European Media Enterprises owned Nova TV in full from 2004 until 2018. In 2018, Direct Media acquired Nova TV together with Doma TV. The network remains an active Croatian broadcaster, operating alongside HRT and RTL as one of the country's principal television channels for original programming.

Nova TV began broadcasting on 28 May 2000 as Croatia's first commercial television network with a national concession. Its arrival introduced a national private competitor to HRT and helped establish a more commercially driven television environment in Croatia. From the beginning, the channel combined acquired entertainment with domestic programming, seeking to build a broad general-interest schedule rather than specialize in a single genre. During its early years, Nova TV expanded into reality and music competition programming. In 2003 it premiered Story Supernova Music Talents, followed in 2004 by Hrvatski idol. The network also brought international reality concepts such as Survivor and Temptation Island to Croatian viewers. These programs helped familiarize the market with reality television and gave Nova TV a recognizable commercial-entertainment identity. Nova TV developed a substantial fiction and comedy offering during the mid-2000s. Naša mala klinika began airing in November 2004 and became one of the early Croatian sitcoms associated with the network. Bumerang followed in 2005. The broadcaster also acquired prominent international series including Lost and Desperate Housewives, alongside feature films and other imported programming. Its schedule continued to mix domestic productions with English-language, Turkish, and other foreign series. News became one of the network's central strengths. Dnevnik Nove TV, the main evening news program, was launched in 2005. By 2008 it was described as the second most popular central news program in Croatia and was competing closely with HRT's Dnevnik. In 2010, it reportedly became the most watched news program in the country. The program's format and presentation remained relatively stable while its audience position made Nova TV an important player in national public debate. The network continued to broaden its portfolio through entertainment franchises. Supertalent, the Croatian version of the Got Talent format, premiered in September 2009 and became one of Nova TV's longest-running original programs. The broadcaster later revived Ples sa zvijezdama, a format that had previously aired on HRT, and introduced a new Survivor edition in March 2022. Turkish drama acquisitions became particularly prominent from the 2010s onward, while children's schedules featured Croatian-dubbed animated and youth series. Nova TV also pursued sports rights. It broadcast alpine skiing, selected fights involving Mirko Filipovic, English Premier League and cup matches during earlier periods, and UEFA Champions League matches from 2009 to 2012. In 2018 it obtained rights for Croatia national football team fixtures through 2028, according to the cited reference. These sports broadcasts complemented its core news and entertainment proposition. Ownership changed during the network's development. Central European Media Enterprises fully owned Nova TV from 2004 until 2018. Direct Media acquired Nova TV and Doma TV in 2018. Nova TV continues to operate as an active national Croatian broadcaster and is commonly grouped with HRT and RTL among the country's principal channels for original programming.

1. 2022Survivor reboot premieres

   Nova TV launches a new Croatian Survivor edition in March.

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2. 2018Direct Media acquisition

   Direct Media purchases Nova TV and Doma TV from the previous ownership structure.

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3. 2010Dnevnik Nove TV reaches the top reported news position

   The program reportedly overtakes HRT's central news broadcast in viewership.

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4. 2009Supertalent premieres

   The Croatian edition of the Got Talent franchise begins airing and becomes a long-running Nova TV entertainment property.

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5. 2008Mini TV launches

   Nova TV launches Mini TV, a specialized channel for children's programming, on 1 October.

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6. 2005Dnevnik Nove TV launches

   Nova TV establishes its principal daily evening news broadcast.

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7. 2004Central European Media Enterprises ownership begins

   Central European Media Enterprises becomes the network's full owner.

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8. 2003Story Supernova Music Talents premieres

   Nova TV launches an original Croatian music-talent competition based on the international Idol-style television trend.

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9. 2000National commercial launch

   Nova TV begins broadcasting on 28 May as Croatia's first commercial television network with a national concession.

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A mainstream national commercial broadcaster combining high-reach news, Croatian original entertainment, locally produced fiction, international acquisitions, and selected sports coverage.

• Dnevnik Nove TVNews broadcasting2005

  Nova TV's principal daily news program, broadcast in the evening. Launched in 2005, it became one of Croatia's most important television news broadcasts and was reported to have overtaken HRT's competing central news program in 2010. Its editorial output is a major part of Nova TV's national presence.

• SupertalentTalent competition2009

  The Croatian adaptation of the Got Talent franchise. Premiering in 2009, the show became one of Nova TV's signature original formats and a long-running part of its prime-time entertainment schedule.

• Ples sa zvijezdamaDance competition

  Nova TV's revived version of the Croatian Dancing with the Stars format, previously broadcast for eight seasons on HRT 1. The program extends the network's use of recognizable international entertainment formats.

• SurvivorReality competition2022

  A rebooted Croatian edition of the international survival-reality format. Nova TV premiered its version in March 2022 after earlier Croatian seasons had been carried by HRT and RTL.

• Naša mala klinikaSitcom2004

  One of the early Croatian sitcoms associated with Nova TV. It began airing in November 2004 and formed part of the network's expansion into locally produced scripted entertainment.

• BumerangSitcom2005

  A locally produced comedy series introduced by Nova TV in early June 2005, adding another domestic scripted title to the network's original programming slate.

• Mini TVChildren's television channel2008

  A specialized children's channel launched by Nova TV on 1 October 2008. Its programming includes acquired animated and youth-oriented series, complementing children's content on the main network.

• 2022Launch of the Nova TV Survivor rebootProduct launch

  The Survivor format had previously appeared in Croatia on HRT and RTL, creating an established local television history for the franchise.

  What changed. Nova TV premiered a new Croatian edition in March 2022.

  Aftermath. The reboot expanded Nova TV's reality-competition portfolio and added a major international format to its current entertainment schedule.

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• 2018Sale of Nova TV and Doma TV to Direct MediaM&A

  Central European Media Enterprises had fully owned Nova TV since 2004. In 2018, a transaction transferred Nova TV and Doma TV to Direct Media.

  What changed. Direct Media purchased the two Croatian television assets.

  Aftermath. The transaction ended CME's full-ownership period and placed Nova TV under a new owner while the network continued operating as a national Croatian broadcaster.

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• 2022Nova TV launches a new Croatian Survivor edition

  A rebooted Croatian edition of Survivor premiered on Nova TV in March 2022 after earlier Croatian seasons had been shown by HRT and RTL.

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• 2018Direct Media acquires Nova TV and Doma TV

  Direct Media purchased Nova TV and Doma TV, ending Central European Media Enterprises' period of full ownership of Nova TV that had begun in 2004.

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• 2010Dnevnik Nove TV becomes a leading Croatian news program

  The network's central news broadcast reportedly surpassed Dnevnik HRT in viewership, strengthening Nova TV's position in Croatian television news.

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• 2003Nova TV introduces Croatian reality and talent formats

  The network expanded its original entertainment slate with Story Supernova Music Talents and later Hrvatski idol, bringing local versions of internationally recognized music-talent formats to Croatian television.

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• 2000Nova TV launches as Croatia's first commercial national television network

  Nova TV began broadcasting on 28 May 2000 after receiving the country's first national commercial television concession.

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1. Nova TV (Croatia)
2. Nova TV official website