TV ZAK

TV ZAK (Západočeská televize ZAK, or West Bohemian Television ZAK) is one of the largest regional television broadcasters in the Czech Republic. It has been broadcasting in the Plzeň (Plzeňský kraj) and Karlovy Vary (Karlovarský kraj) regions since 1996, making it one of the longest-running regional stations in the country. Its programming is built around daily regional news, interviews with local guests, and public-affairs magazine shows that cover topics national broadcasters typically do not have the airtime to address. The station broadcasts in HD quality and, according to its own cited audience research, reaches nearly 300,000 viewers per week. Its schedule combines a daily news block with cultural, sports, and regional-travel programming; the official website highlights recurring segments such as "Zprávy" (News), "Kultura a sport" (Culture and Sport), "Putování v regionech" (Wandering Through the Regions), and election-focused interview series tied to Czech municipal elections. In 2020 the ownership structure of ZAK TV changed: EURONOVA GROUP became the majority owner. In January of that year, the commercial representation company West Bohemia Broadcasting merged with ZAK TV. The station has also been an active participant in the Czech Republic's transition to the DVB-T2 digital terrestrial broadcasting standard, working with Multiplex 24, as documented by Czech Radio's digital broadcasting coverage. As a regional broadcaster, TV ZAK occupies a specific niche: it is not a national network but a locally rooted news and public-affairs service whose value lies in hyper-local coverage of western Bohemia. It maintains a presence across social platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, and streams its current broadcast through its official website.

TV ZAK, formally Západočeská televize ZAK (West Bohemian Television ZAK), began broadcasting in 1996 in the Plzeň and Karlovy Vary regions of the Czech Republic. From its inception it positioned itself as a regional alternative to national networks, focusing on daily news and public-affairs programming rooted in western Bohemia. Over the following decades it grew into one of the largest regional television stations in the country, building a schedule around daily news bulletins, interviews, and magazine shows covering local politics, culture, sport, and travel. A significant turning point came in 2020, when the station's ownership structure changed. EURONOVA GROUP became the majority owner of ZAK TV. In January of that year, West Bohemia Broadcasting — the company handling commercial representation — merged with ZAK TV, consolidating sales and broadcasting operations under one entity. In parallel with these corporate changes, ZAK TV navigated the Czech Republic's nationwide transition from the DVB-T to the DVB-T2 digital terrestrial broadcasting standard. Czech Radio's digital broadcasting service reported that the station "spojila svou budoucnost v DVB-T2 s multiplexem 24" (linked its future in DVB-T2 with Multiplex 24), and covered its rollout of warning/informational broadcasts during the transition period. This move secured its terrestrial distribution as the country migrated to the newer standard. By the 2020s the station was broadcasting in HD quality and, according to audience research it cites, reaching nearly 300,000 viewers per week. Its programming continued to emphasize regional topics that national broadcasters do not cover, including municipal election coverage — for example, its "Komunální volby 2026" series of interviews with candidates in towns such as Mariánské Lázně and Cheb. The station also maintains an online presence through its website, which streams its current broadcast and archives past programs, as well as through Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

• 2020

  EURONOVA GROUP becomes majority owner of ZAK TV.

• 2020

  West Bohemia Broadcasting merges with ZAK TV in January.

• 1996

  TV ZAK begins broadcasting in the Plzeň and Karlovy Vary regions.

• ZAK TV transitions to DVB-T2 digital terrestrial broadcasting with Multiplex 24.

A leading regional television broadcaster serving western Bohemia with hyper-local news and public-affairs programming.

• Zprávy (News)

  Daily regional news programming.

• Kultura a sport (Culture and Sport)

  Coverage of cultural and sporting events in the region.

• Putování v regionech (Wandering Through the Regions)

  Regional travel and exploration series.

• Komunální volby 2026 (Municipal Elections 2026)

  Election interview series with candidates in towns such as Mariánské Lázně and Cheb.

1. 1Hlavní stránka | ZAK TVzaktv.cz
2. 2TV ZAK – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3TV ZAK – Wikipedia (Czech)cs.wikipedia.org
4. 4Západočeská televize ZAK TV spojila svou budoucnost v DVB-T2 s multiplexem 24digital.rozhlas.cz
5. 5Přechod na DVB-T2 čeká i regionální televize, západočeská ZAK TV nasadila varovnýdigital.rozhlas.cz
6. 6Další regionální televize v DVB-T2: jihočeská JTV a západočeská TV ZAKdigital.rozhlas.cz