The past week in the media landscape was marked by digital transformation and the relentless pressure of artificial intelligence, which is changing established orders across industries. We followed key personnel shifts, fascinating technological innovations, and gripping business disputes.
Media: AI, Digital Startups, and Questions About the Future
- The dominant theme was the ongoing frenzy around artificial intelligence. It was found that AI search engines are powered by journalism, which presents a challenge for public relations, as paid content and press releases make up a minimum of citations. On the other hand, AI scandals in the media, from fabricated authors to hallucinations in citations, point to the dark side of uncritical use of this technology.
- The dynamics of local news are also changing, with digital startups taking over the role of local newspapers and crushing traditional media in terms of readership. This is an alarming message for traditional print dailies. Indeed, the fifty largest news websites in the US are seeing declining traffic, pointing to a general trend of decreasing interest in large news portals.
- The Czech Republic also saw success in investigative journalism. The Journalism Award 2025 honored reports from Ukraine and investigations into the Night Wolves, underlining the importance of quality and independent journalism.
- Sad news came from the industry – the Media and Technology conference is ending, which is a significant event for the media, concluding a long-standing tradition.
- The Supreme Court ruled on copyright, confirming that the organizer is responsible for copyright licenses, not just artists. The decision impacts cultural events and their organizers.
TV & Radio: Digital Wave and Personnel Changes
- Digital transformation is also affecting radio broadcasting. RadioHub is a digital add-on for DAB+ and recorded 100,000 launches after a month, indicating interest in digital audio content. Also, the Balearic Islands were the first region in Spain to launch their own DAB+ digital radio, joining modern broadcasting trends.
- The Czech Telecommunication Office launched a three-year study on viewer behavior to determine the future direction of over-the-air television broadcasting after 2030. At the same time, ČRA and Czech Radio are testing warnings via DAB+, which could strengthen radio's role as an emergency system.
- In commercial radio, there was a significant personnel change – Jiří Hrabák is stepping down as head of Impuls after 27 years, and Michal Hanák will lead the radio station.
- In the television market, MAGENTA TV celebrates 10 years and already has 325,000 customers, confirming the strength of streaming platforms. At the same time, Warner TV is requesting a new license, likely due to a shift from films to documentaries and reality TV, indicating program changes and adaptation to viewer preferences.
- A well-known figure is returning from Czech Television: Václav Moravec is returning and will launch his own media project at the end of May, which will be closely watched.
- At the end of the week, we were hit by the news that Franta Šťastna passed away, the long-time voice of Country Radio, marking a loss of a significant personality for the Czech radio scene.
Social Networks: News and Automation
- In the field of social networks, creators are grappling with efficiency. Creators are looking for ways to automate posts on LinkedIn and Instagram for free, a response to the growing need to streamline content management.
- Instagram is not idle; it is launching Instants, a new hybrid of Snapchat and BeReal, in an effort to revitalize user activity and return to more authentic sharing.
Marketing & PR: Emotion, AI, and Transformation
- Marketing strategies are changing. Sports marketing is shifting to real-time activation, signaling the end of the era of expensive TV slots and a move towards more interactive fan engagement.
- An analysis of fintech campaigns showed that emotions, not numbers, are key to success, and how 25 fintech campaigns changed users' relationship with money.
- In PR, transformation is being discussed. Changes in PR for 2026 suggest a return of press releases due to AI and the rise of independent creators, signaling the industry's adaptation to new challenges.
- Restrictions on AI content also apply to businesses. A Cisco manager on the problems of AI content states that artificial intelligence lacks taste and its own opinion, underscoring the need for human oversight.
Digital & Trends: AI Investments and Infrastructure
- Czech Radiocommunications is strengthening – CRA is bolstering its AI and cloud capabilities and its strategy for 2026 focuses on modern infrastructure.
- The PPF Group is involved in telecommunications – CETIN is establishing new companies for fiber optic construction, and PPF is strengthening its position in telecommunication services.
- Operator O2 focuses on crisis preparedness. O2 is deploying a new off-road Mercedes and promises to restore mobile network connectivity within two hours, which is important for ensuring connectivity.
- Investments in AI are also evident in other sectors. Tinder's owner is cutting back on hiring and investing the saved money in artificial intelligence, indicating a shift in the priorities of tech companies.
- Practical use of AI in content marketing is demonstrated in the article Headline Tester – how AI helps write headlines people click on, which offers insight into more effective content creation.
- The Digimedia 2026 conference is already announcing key topics, including the end of fees and the impact of AI on media, highlighting long-term industry trends.
What to watch next week:
Next week, we will focus on further developments in artificial intelligence in journalism and marketing, especially with regard to discussions about authenticity and ethics. We will also monitor how Václav Moravec's new media project will develop and what impact the Supreme Court's decision on copyrights will have on cultural event organizers.