Media Week #32/2026

Media Week #32/2026

Last week on the media scene was marked by digital innovations, strengthening of television programming schedules, and important personnel changes. Join us as we delve into the key events that shaped the media landscape.

Czech Television on full offensive

• Czech Television to premiere series "Na tělo", directed by Jan Hřebejk: Czech Television will present to viewers a new nine-part series "Na tělo", directed by Jan Hřebejk and written by Martina Formanová. The premiere at the Litomyšl festival promises an interesting combination of relationship comedy and satire, which may attract a new audience.
• Prima kicks off autumn: Launches sports channel and bets on return of "Traitors" and crime dramas: Prima Group will begin the autumn season with ambitious plans. The key novelty is the launch of the Prima sport channel and a significant strengthening of crime series. Betting on sports content and proven formats shows an effort to appeal to a wide spectrum of viewers.
• Prima Group launches its own sports channel on August 17th, replacing Sporty TV: A more detailed report on the upcoming launch of Prima sport on August 17th. This move by Prima, in cooperation with Perinvest Group, represents a strategic expansion into sports broadcasting and an effort to be competitive in this market.

Personnel changes and media personalities

• Jana Schillerová heads the press department of the Ministry of the Environment: The Ministry of the Environment has a new spokeswoman. Jana Schillerová, with experience from the Ministry of Health and national television stations, brings a new face to departmental communication.
• Moderator Nina Ortová leaves Czech Television, warns of risk of media nationalization: The news of Nina Ortová's departure from Czech Television is a significant event. Her expression of concerns about political efforts to change the status of public service media suggests tension in the area of media independence.
• Dublin bid farewell to Glen Hansard: Funeral transformed into a musical celebration of life: The music world bid farewell to Irish musician Glen Hansard. His funeral, which turned into a musical celebration, underscores his importance and the legacy he left behind.

Digital revolution and AI

• Indonesia abolishes music registration fees for national database creation: Indonesia is taking a significant step towards digitizing the music market by abolishing registration fees. The goal is to create a national database and ensure fair remuneration for authors, which could have a global impact on digital music distribution.
• Ariana Grande sues unknown hackers for selling stolen songs on the dark web: The case of Ariana Grande highlights the continuing risks of cyberattacks and copyright protection in the digital world. The way celebrities deal with illegal content distribution is still a current challenge for the media industry.
• MIP Cancun to focus on vertical video and new business models in media: The upcoming MIP Cancun media trade fair reflects the trend of vertical video and new business models. The rise of platforms like YouTube and Kuaishou Technology shows how content distribution and consumption are changing.
• iROZHLAS portal changed cloud provider, now runs on CRA technology: The transition of iROZHLAS.cz to the České Radiokomunikace cloud infrastructure is an example of digitization and operational optimization in the media. Seamless migration is key to maintaining the continuity of digital services.
• Snapchat connects map with Spotify and allows real-time music sharing: The integration of music into social networks continues with the "Now Playing" feature on Snapchat. This novelty strengthens content sharing and social interaction, a trend that is moving the digital world.
• Vertical content economy outside China to reach $150 billion this year: The growth of the vertical video economy is astounding and confirms its growing dominance. With artificial intelligence as a key driver, this format is becoming a serious competitor to traditional television.
• Luminate Survey: Americans still distrust artificial intelligence in entertainment: Despite all the progress in AI, the Luminate survey shows Americans' lingering distrust of AI-generated entertainment content. This skepticism, especially among older generations, is an important factor for media creators.
• 2026 FIFA World Cup: Content on YouTube watched by over 1.7 billion viewers: The record viewership of the FIFA World Cup on YouTube underscores the power of digital platforms for streaming live events. Sports content is a driver of viewership on online platforms.
• SoundCloud acquires blockchain marketplace Nina Protocol and saves its content: SoundCloud's acquisition of Nina Protocol is an important step for the blockchain music community. This move can help maintain independent music projects and shows how traditional players are adapting to new technologies.

Traditional media and their transformation

• Three-quarters of people in the Czech Republic read print, interest in economic titles growing: Despite digital dominance, print media in the Czech Republic still reaches a wide readership. The growing interest in economic titles suggests that print maintains relevance for specific genres and target groups.
• How is the British TV viewer changing? We bring a detailed analysis of the Ofcom study: An analysis of the British television market is crucial for understanding future trends in other countries as well. Changes in the consumption of classic television, streaming services, and YouTube indicate the need for media companies to adapt.
• COMMENTARY: Print is not dying. Neither is television. But it's no longer good to stand on one leg: This commentary summarizes the essence of the media landscape – traditional media are holding their own, but diversification is key. Being on only one platform is a risk; the future is in a multi-platform approach.
• Radio The Rock expands: First New Zealand station to broadcast live in Australia: The expansion of New Zealand station The Rock into the Australian market is proof of the globalization of radio broadcasting and the search for new listeners even beyond borders.
• ROMA TV apparently ceased broadcasting. Stream disappeared from IPTV and website by August 1st: The news of ROMA TV's probable cessation of broadcasting is a reminder of the challenges of entering the media market and the sustainability of new projects, especially in minority media.

Marketing and brand building

• How to turn podcast interviews into an effective tool for brand building: Podcasts are becoming an increasingly powerful tool for building brand and authority. The example of Purdue University shows how audio content can be used to promote experts and institutions.
• TV Nova news dominates Czech TikTok, with over a million followers across all networks: The success of TV Nova news on TikTok and reaching a million followers across platforms demonstrates the power of social media for audience reach and engagement.

What to watch next week

Next week, we will focus on further developments in vertical video and AI in media, especially in the context of new business models. Also, follow how the strategies of traditional television stations are evolving in the fight for viewers and what other personnel changes will shake up the media scene.