TV Nova
A Czech commercial television network and media brand that operates the country’s flagship TV Nova channel and related digital and pay-TV services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
TV Nova is a Czech commercial television brand and the flagship broadcast operation of the Nova media group. It began broadcasting on 4 February 1994 as the Czech Republic’s first privately held nationwide television station, entering a market previously dominated by state television. The station quickly built a mass audience through a combination of locally produced entertainment, popular imported programming, distinctive news presentation, and aggressive audience-oriented marketing. Its launch marked a major change in Czech broadcasting, introducing a commercially driven nationwide channel with a programming style that differed sharply from the public-service television tradition. The station’s first chief executive was Vladimír Železný. Under its early management, TV Nova developed a highly recognizable popular-programming formula, combining serial dramas, comedy, quiz and game shows, reality formats, talk and lifestyle programming, films, and commercial news. Local production was particularly important to its identity. Nova commissioned Czech entertainment and fiction and used familiar domestic performers, while also adapting internationally established formats. It became profitable very quickly and achieved the largest audience share in the Czech television market for many years, retaining a leading position until competition intensified in the late 2000s and early 2010s. TV Nova’s corporate history has been closely connected with the relationship between the Czech license holder CET 21 and Central European Media Enterprises, the international media company that provided financing and participated in the channel’s development. Disputes between the license holder and CME contributed to a major investment-protection arbitration involving CME and Ronald Lauder against the Czech Republic. The Czech state was ultimately ordered to pay approximately $353 million in compensation for failing to protect CME’s investment. CME later obtained full ownership of Nova, making the broadcaster part of a wider Central and Eastern European television portfolio. The brand expanded beyond its original terrestrial channel as television technology and audience behavior changed. It introduced 16:9 production and transmission in 2007, launched a widescreen service in 2008, and began distributing the main channel in high definition through satellite, cable, and digital terrestrial platforms. The Nova group subsequently developed a portfolio of thematic and complementary channels, while also extending its presence through websites, mobile and hybrid broadcast-broadband services, and video streaming. In 2011, Nova launched Voyo, a streaming service that became an increasingly important part of the group’s digital strategy. Voyo provides on-demand programming and exclusive productions, allowing Nova to compete for viewing time beyond scheduled television. The group has also continued to invest in locally made series, reality programming, news, sports and entertainment formats. In 2022, TV Nova and Slovak sister broadcaster Markíza established the CME Content Academy with the Brno Television Institute, supporting professional training in television and film production across several countries where CME operates. PPF acquired CME in 2020, bringing TV Nova under the ownership of a Czech investment group. The broadcaster has also addressed production sustainability, publishing what was described as the Czech Republic’s first Green Filmmaking Manual in 2021. Today, TV Nova remains a major Czech media brand with a broad content ecosystem encompassing its flagship linear channel, additional channels, HD distribution, Voyo streaming, web properties, and digital television services.
History
TV Nova was created during the transformation of Czech broadcasting after the end of the communist-era state television monopoly. It began transmitting on 4 February 1994 as the first privately held nationwide commercial television station in the Czech Republic. The channel’s first chief executive was Vladimír Železný. Its commercial model, national reach and emphasis on accessible entertainment allowed it to attract a very large audience soon after launch. During the 1990s, Nova differentiated itself through a mixture of Czech-produced programs and imported films and series. Its schedule included news, comedy, drama, quiz programming and other entertainment formats. The station invested in domestic productions featuring well-known Czech performers and created programming that was designed for broad popular appeal. This approach challenged the established public-service broadcasting model and helped make Nova the country’s leading television channel. The broadcaster reportedly became profitable within its first year of operation and remained the market-share leader for much of the following period. A defining corporate issue was the relationship among CET 21, the entity holding the Czech broadcasting license, and Central European Media Enterprises, which financed and supported Nova’s development. A dispute between the parties developed into an international investment-arbitration conflict involving CME and investor Ronald Lauder. The arbitration concluded that the Czech Republic had failed to protect CME’s investment, and the state was ordered to pay compensation of approximately $353 million. CME subsequently gained full ownership of Nova, consolidating the station within its regional media group. The channel also became known for provocative programming, including the late-night nude weather segment commonly known as “Počasíčko.” Although the segment was a relatively small part of the schedule, it reflected Nova’s early willingness to use sensational and unconventional formats to build attention in a newly commercial television market. From the late 2000s onward, Nova broadened its distribution and technology platform. It adopted 16:9 broadcasting in 2007, introduced a widescreen channel in 2008, and distributed the main service in high definition through satellite, cable and digital terrestrial systems. It also developed a multi-channel strategy, adding niche and complementary services to respond to a more fragmented television market. Nova launched Voyo in 2011 as its on-demand video service. As streaming competition increased, Voyo evolved from a supplementary digital product into a strategic platform for exclusive programming and original content. Nova also expanded its web presence and hybrid broadcast-broadband television services, linking scheduled broadcasting with online viewing and interactive features. In 2020, PPF acquired CME, bringing TV Nova under the ownership of a Czech investment group. The broadcaster continued to rely on a combination of flagship linear television, local fiction, news, entertainment formats, additional channels and streaming. In 2021, it published a Green Filmmaking Manual aimed at encouraging more sustainable production practices. In 2022, TV Nova and Markíza partnered with the Brno Television Institute to create the CME Content Academy, a cross-border training program for emerging production professionals. TV Nova therefore developed from a pioneering nationwide commercial channel into a broader audiovisual brand spanning broadcast, subscription or on-demand video, digital services and industry development.
- 2022
CME Content Academy
[1]TV Nova and Markíza establish a multi-country content-production training academy with the Brno Television Institute.
- 2021
Sustainable-production guidance
[1]Nova publishes a Green Filmmaking Manual for audiovisual production in the Czech Republic.
- 2020
CME acquisition by PPF
[1]PPF acquires CME, the parent group of TV Nova.
- 2011
Voyo launch
[1]Nova introduces Voyo, its streaming and on-demand video platform.
- 2008
Widescreen and HD expansion
[1]Nova launches a widescreen service and expands HD distribution over satellite, cable and digital terrestrial platforms.
- 2007
16:9 transition
[1]Nova begins broadcasting in the widescreen 16:9 format.
- 1995
Expansion of original entertainment
[1]The channel develops a broad popular schedule including locally produced comedy, entertainment and quiz programming.
- 1994
Nationwide launch
[1]TV Nova begins broadcasting as the Czech Republic’s first privately held nationwide commercial television station.
Products and positioning
A mass-market Czech commercial broadcaster built around locally relevant entertainment, serial drama, news, adaptations of international formats, and increasingly integrated digital and streaming services.
Flagship television channel · 1994
TV Nova
The principal nationwide Czech commercial television channel. Its schedule combines national news, locally produced drama and comedy, reality and entertainment formats, imported films and series, and adaptations of international television concepts. The channel’s broad, mass-market programming has been the foundation of the Nova brand since its 1994 launch.
Streaming video service · 2011
Voyo
Nova’s on-demand video platform, launched in 2011. Voyo extends the broadcaster beyond scheduled linear television with online access to programming and exclusive or original content. It represents the group’s principal response to changing viewing habits and competition from international streaming services.
High-definition television service · 2008
Nova HD
The high-definition distribution of TV Nova, available from 2008 through satellite, cable and digital terrestrial delivery. The service supports the main channel’s transition from conventional television presentation to higher-resolution digital broadcasting.
Serial drama
Ulice
A long-running Czech serial drama associated with TV Nova’s investment in locally produced fiction. Its continuing presence illustrates the channel’s reliance on recurring domestic stories and characters to build habitual viewing and strengthen its relationship with Czech audiences.
Medical drama series
Ordinace v růžové zahradě 2
A Czech medical drama and one of Nova’s established locally produced fiction properties. The series forms part of the channel’s strategy of using domestic serial storytelling and recognizable settings to anchor its regular schedule.
Crime drama series
Kriminálka Anděl
A Czech crime series centered on investigative cases. It represents Nova’s use of locally produced genre fiction, particularly crime drama, to complement family entertainment and serial programming in its prime-time schedule.
Quiz and game show · 2000
Chcete být milionářem?
The Czech adaptation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? It aired on Nova from 2000 to 2005 and returned for a later run from 2016 to 2017, demonstrating the channel’s use of internationally successful formats for local audiences.
Reality television
Robinsonův ostrov
Nova’s Czech version of the Survivor reality format. The program broadened the network’s reality-TV portfolio and adapted a globally recognized competition concept for Czech viewers.
Controversies
2003
CME–Czech Republic investment arbitration
A dispute involving TV Nova’s license holder, CET 21, and its financial and corporate partner CME developed into an international arbitration case involving CME and Ronald Lauder. The tribunal found that the Czech Republic had failed to protect CME’s investment and ordered the state to pay approximately $353 million. CME later obtained full ownership of Nova.
Brand decisions
2022
Creation of CME Content AcademyStrategyBackground
CME broadcasters needed a continuing pipeline of professionals trained in television and film production.
Action taken
TV Nova and Markíza partnered with the Brno Television Institute to establish a two-year, multi-country content-production training program.
Aftermath
The academy linked professional education with production operations across CME markets in Central and Eastern Europe.
2020
CME acquisition by PPFM&ABackground
TV Nova operated within Central European Media Enterprises, a regional television group.
Action taken
PPF acquired CME, thereby acquiring the corporate group that owned TV Nova.
Aftermath
TV Nova came under domestic Czech investment-group ownership while continuing as part of CME’s regional media portfolio.
2011
Entry into streaming with VoyoStrategyBackground
Online video and changing viewing habits were beginning to challenge scheduled television.
Action taken
Nova launched Voyo as an on-demand video service and subsequently increased its focus on exclusive digital content.
Aftermath
Voyo became a key part of Nova’s digital ecosystem and its response to global streaming competitors.
2008
Launch of widescreen and HD servicesProduct launchBackground
Digital television technology was creating demand for higher-resolution and widescreen services.
Action taken
Nova launched a widescreen channel and expanded HD distribution through satellite, cable and digital terrestrial platforms.
Aftermath
The broadcaster strengthened its technical positioning and prepared its channel portfolio for multi-platform viewing.
2007
Move to widescreen broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
The television industry was moving from standard-format presentation toward widescreen digital production and distribution.
Action taken
TV Nova began adopting the 16:9 format for its broadcasts.
Aftermath
The change formed part of Nova’s broader transition toward digital and high-definition television.
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