TV JOJ

TV JOJ is a Slovak private television channel launched on 2 March 2002. It succeeded TV Global, a network that had operated since March 2000, and was created to establish a stronger competitor to TV Markíza, then the dominant nationwide commercial broadcaster in Slovakia. The channel’s name comes from the Slovak interjection “joj,” an expression of surprise or admiration comparable in use to “oh là là.” Its original slogan, “Nuda na Slovensku skončila,” presented the station as a lively alternative to the existing television landscape. The channel emerged from a dispute involving Vladimír Železný, the former head of Czech broadcaster TV Nova, and Central European Media Enterprises, TV Nova’s American investor. Through the Slovak TV JOJ project, Železný sought to challenge the influence of CME’s Slovak station, TV Markíza, which at the time attracted close to half of the country’s nationwide audience. TV JOJ initially struggled to gain viewers and was less popular than TV Nova and TV Markíza. Its early development was also shaped by changes in ownership and Slovak media-ownership rules. In 2004, after CME reacquired TV Nova, it was required to divest its interest in TV JOJ because Slovak legislation prohibited one company from owning two nationwide television stations. The Czech interests sold TV JOJ back to Grafobal Group, associated with Slovak businessman Ivan Kmotrík. During this period, the channel expanded its terrestrial reach from approximately 65 percent of Slovakia to about 80 percent in 2005. Grafobal’s wider business interests included newspaper distribution, printing, and advertising. J&T Media Enterprises acquired Mac TV, the company holding TV JOJ’s broadcasting licence, from Grafobal Group in January 2007. In a related transaction, Grafobal acquired full ownership of CEN, the company operating the all-news channel TA3, from J&T Finance Group. TV JOJ subsequently became part of the media interests associated with J&T Enterprises and the broader J&T Group. The channel’s programming mix includes serial dramas, entertainment formats, factual and lifestyle shows, news, current-affairs programming, and other locally produced television content. Its on-screen identity has been built around Slovak presenters, actors, comedians, musicians, and public personalities. Over time, TV JOJ improved its competitive position against TV Markíza. By July 2012, its average weekly audience share was reported at 21.8 percent, compared with 26.7 percent for TV Markíza, whose share had declined substantially from earlier levels. In October 2025, TV JOJ announced a planned change to its distribution model. The channel and its sister channels were scheduled to stop being freely available over the air from 1 January 2026 and move to pay television. Terrestrial coverage was expected to continue in encrypted form through the Plustelka platform. This decision marked a significant shift from TV JOJ’s earlier free-to-air positioning, although the channel remained active as a Slovak commercial television brand.

TV JOJ was launched on 2 March 2002 as the successor to TV Global, which had broadcast in Slovakia since March 2000. The new station was developed in the context of a competitive struggle surrounding TV Nova, Central European Media Enterprises, and Slovakia’s leading commercial broadcaster, TV Markíza. Vladimír Železný, formerly associated with TV Nova, used the project to create a rival to CME’s Slovak television interests. TV JOJ’s first slogan, “Nuda na Slovensku skončila,” announced an intention to bring a more energetic commercial television service to Slovak audiences. The launch did not immediately produce a strong market position. TV JOJ initially attracted fewer viewers than the established broadcasters, particularly TV Markíza and TV Nova. Its ownership changed again in 2004, when CME reacquired TV Nova. Because Slovak law restricted a company from owning two nationwide television stations, the American interests had to divest TV JOJ. The channel was sold back to Grafobal Group, a Slovak business associated with Ivan Kmotrík. Under Grafobal, TV JOJ expanded its terrestrial reach from roughly 65 percent of Slovakia to approximately 80 percent in 2005, while continuing to build its audience and programming schedule. In January 2007, J&T Media Enterprises acquired Mac TV, the holder of TV JOJ’s broadcasting licence, from Grafobal Group. A related asset exchange transferred ownership of the news broadcaster TA3’s operating company, CEN, to Grafobal. TV JOJ thereafter became part of the media portfolio connected with J&T Enterprises and the wider J&T Group. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, TV JOJ developed a broad general-interest schedule. Its output included serial dramas, entertainment programmes, lifestyle content, news, current affairs, and locally produced formats. A large roster of Slovak presenters and performers contributed to its on-screen identity. The station’s competitive position improved as TV Markíza’s previously dominant audience share weakened. In July 2012, TV JOJ’s average weekly audience share was reported at 21.8 percent, compared with 26.7 percent for TV Markíza. In October 2025, TV JOJ announced a major distribution change. The channel and its sister stations were scheduled to end free-to-air distribution on 1 January 2026 and become pay-TV services. Terrestrial transmission was expected to remain available on an encrypted basis through the Plustelka platform. The announcement represented a strategic change in how the group intended to distribute its channels, while TV JOJ continued operating as an active Slovak commercial television brand.

• 2025

  Pay-TV transition announced

  [1]TV JOJen.wikipedia.org

  TV JOJ announces that it and its sister channels will end free-to-air distribution from 1 January 2026, with encrypted terrestrial distribution continuing through Plustelka.

• 2012

  Audience share reaches 21.8 percent

  [1]TV JOJen.wikipedia.org

  The channel’s average weekly audience share is reported at 21.8 percent in July, narrowing the gap with TV Markíza.

• 2007

  J&T acquires the licence-holding company

  [1]TV JOJen.wikipedia.org

  J&T Media Enterprises acquires Mac TV, the company holding TV JOJ’s broadcasting licence, from Grafobal Group.

• 2005

  Terrestrial reach expands

  [1]TV JOJen.wikipedia.org

  The channel’s reported terrestrial reach rises from about 65 percent of Slovakia to approximately 80 percent.

• 2004

  Ownership returns to Grafobal Group

  [1]TV JOJen.wikipedia.org

  Following CME’s reacquisition of TV Nova and Slovak ownership restrictions, TV JOJ is sold back to Grafobal Group.

• 2002

  TV JOJ launches

  [1]TV JOJen.wikipedia.org

  TV JOJ launches on 2 March as the successor to TV Global.

• 2000

  TV Global begins broadcasting

  [1]TV JOJen.wikipedia.org

  TV Global, the predecessor network of TV JOJ, begins broadcasting in Slovakia.

A mainstream Slovak commercial broadcaster positioned as a locally focused entertainment and general-interest alternative to TV Markíza, combining domestic productions with serial drama, news, lifestyle, and entertainment programming.

• Television channel · 2002

  TV JOJ

  The flagship Slovak general-interest television channel launched in 2002 as the successor to TV Global. Its schedule combines serial dramas, entertainment, news, current affairs, lifestyle, factual programming, and locally produced formats. The channel was historically distributed on a free-to-air basis and was scheduled to move to encrypted pay-TV distribution from 1 January 2026, including terrestrial carriage through Plustelka.

• 2002Nuda na Slovensku skončila

  Slovakia

  The channel launched with the slogan “Nuda na Slovensku skončila,” presenting TV JOJ as a lively new alternative in Slovak television.

  Outcome. The launch established the channel’s initial public-facing positioning, although TV JOJ initially struggled to attract viewers.

  Source

• 2025

  Shift from free-to-air to pay-TV distributionStrategy

  Background

  TV JOJ and its sister channels announced a change in distribution beginning in 2026.

  Action taken

  The channels were scheduled to cease free-to-air distribution and continue as pay-TV services, with encrypted terrestrial carriage on Plustelka.

  Aftermath

  The decision was expected to change how Slovak viewers access TV JOJ and its sister channels.

  Source

• 2007

  J&T acquisition of Mac TVM&A

  Background

  Mac TV held the broadcasting licence for TV JOJ, while J&T was expanding its media interests.

  Action taken

  J&T Media Enterprises acquired Mac TV from Grafobal Group.

  Aftermath

  TV JOJ became part of the media interests associated with J&T Enterprises.

  Source

• 2004

  Divestment following CME’s reacquisition of TV NovaM&A

  Background

  CME’s reacquisition of TV Nova created a conflict with Slovak restrictions on ownership of two nationwide television stations.

  Action taken

  The interests connected with CME sold TV JOJ back to Grafobal Group.

  Aftermath

  Grafobal became the channel’s owner and TV JOJ continued expanding its Slovak terrestrial reach.

  Source

1. 1TV JOJen.wikipedia.org
2. 2TV JOJ official websitejoj.sk