Czech and Czechoslovak content remains the key driver of television viewership in the Czech Republic. Czech audiences spend three-fifths of their total TV viewing time watching local content, across all generations. Its strong popularity is evident not only among older viewers, but also among the youngest age groups. This is based on television audience data from Atmedia, which represents thematic television channels in the Czech market.

Viewers aged 15+ spent an average of 3.5 hours per day watching television last year, with 66% of them turning on their TV daily.^[1] Although local content accounted for 31% of the programming across all measured television channels, it generated 57% of total television viewership.^[2] Domestic production therefore continues to demonstrate its strong ability to attract broad audiences to the screen. ‘Local content remains one of the main reasons why viewers turn on television, and even in an increasingly fragmented media landscape it continues to prove its ability to reach a wide audience,’ said Michaela Suráková, Managing Director at Atmedia.

Local Production Appeals Across Generations

The popularity of Czech and Czechoslovak content is evident across all age groups. Among viewers aged 15–34, local content accounts for half of all time spent watching television. Its share increases with age, reaching 55% among viewers aged 35–54 and 59% in the 55+ age group.^[3] ‘Czech content is not only the domain of older generations. The data show that younger audiences, who today use a wide range of platforms, also maintain a strong connection to local production. Television is still able to offer content that feels relevant and close to their everyday lives,’ added Michaela Suráková.

Czech Content Also Performs Strongly on Pay-TV Thematic Channels

Local production has long dominated the most-watched television genres, including films, series, and entertainment shows. The share of local content in TV programming has also been steadily increasing. In 2015, Czech and Czechoslovak content accounted for one-fifth of programming; in 2020 it reached 27%, and last year it rose to 31%.^[4] This trend is visible not only among major free-to-air broadcasters, but also increasingly among pay-TV thematic channels such as FilmBox and CS Film.

‘Viewers have long shown strong interest in Czech content even on pay-TV thematic channels. Alongside international productions, FilmBox also features Czech and Czechoslovak films, which are very popular with its audience,’ said Suráková. She added that these titles have helped FilmBox remain the most-watched pay-TV channel on the Czech market, reaching an average of one million viewers per month in the 18–69 commercial target group. The second most-watched pay-TV channel is CS Film, whose programming is entirely based on Czech and Czechoslovak production.^[5]

According to Atmedia, the importance of local production for the television market is expected to continue growing. In a time of expanding international video content, local programming remains one of the key factors differentiating television broadcasting and helping it maintain strong reach across the population.

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