Barrandov Televizní Studio, currently in bankruptcy, is likely to lose its broadcasting licenses for its thematic stations in the near future. The insolvency administrator expects their imminent cancellation by the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (RRTV) due to the declaration of bankruptcy over the debtor's assets. This situation affects the programs Barrandov Kino and Barrandov Krimi.
According to the insolvency administrator, the legal fate of the existing licenses is very uncertain. In his statement to creditors, he clearly declared that after the declaration of bankruptcy, maintaining the licenses is unlikely. This step is a direct consequence of the group's financial troubles, which officially ceased the operations of the original operating company last week.
“I am convinced that the existing licenses granted by the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting to the debtor will be canceled shortly precisely because of the declared bankruptcy,” stated the insolvency administrator.
The administrator further highlighted significant legal restrictions arising from the Broadcasting Act. Licenses are inherently non-transferable, meaning they cannot be sold to a third party or included in the assets designated for monetization. Within the bankruptcy proceedings, only the fate of transferable assets will be decided. These primarily include trademarks, the archive of original productions, movable property, and receivables.
Despite the legal uncertainty and the cessation of Barrandov Televizní Studio's activities, the broadcasting of three Barrandov branded programs continues for now. This is due to a different ownership structure for the main station. The license for the main TV Barrandov program had previously expired, and a new authorization for 2025 is held by the company S-24 akvizice II. This entity allowed broadcasting to continue through contractual cooperation even during the group's restructuring processes.
The situation regarding the thematic channels thus represents the final phase of asset settlement for the original operating company. While the main channel was separated from the original structure, the Barrandov Kino and Barrandov Krimi stations are most likely to face the expiration of their current authorizations without the possibility of direct sale to a new investor.