The PPF Group aims to further develop its own media platforms and integrate them with telecommunications and other services. It intends to build on local content, data and the creation of an ecosystem that will enable it to compete with global players. This was stated by Didier Stoessel, co-CEO of the PPF financial group, which owns the Oneplay platform, at Tuesday’s Shifts 2026 conference. He was interviewed by Nikita Poljakov, editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper e15, which organised the conference.
PPF Group’s media strategy is based on building its own digital platforms and integrating them into a broader ecosystem. It was precisely this approach that enabled the transformation of the CME media group and the creation of the Voyo streaming service (now Oneplay). Stoessel recalled that the ambition to build a strong local streaming service initially met with scepticism. “When I first spoke about wanting to have a million subscribers, the reactions were almost entirely negative. Today, however, we have proven the opposite,” he said.
According to him, PPF has succeeded in completely transforming the operations of TV Nova and its parent company CME towards the digital business. The result is a platform that competes with global players on the domestic market. “We are roughly one and a half times larger than Netflix, four to five times larger than Disney, and three to four times larger than HBO Max,” said Stoessel. This would mean that Oneplay has 50% more subscribers in the Czech Republic than the global leader, Netflix.
The Oneplay platform links content with distribution, primarily through the operator O2 Czech Republic, also owned by PPF. According to Stoessel, this is an example of PPF’s broader strategy. “When you combine two platforms into a single ecosystem, the result isn’t one plus one, but three,” he explained. The combination of media and telecommunications, he said, enables more effective monetisation and wider distribution of content.
According to Stoessel, the foundation of the media strategy is control over both distribution and monetisation. “We don’t want to hand over half of the revenue from monetisation to someone else. That’s why we’re building our own platforms, where we can distribute and monetise content, whether through subscriptions or advertising,” he said. The platform aims to link unstructured data from various verticals, ranging from viewership and banking transactions to telecommunications habits.
OnePlay deliberately does not share its content on YouTube precisely so that it does not have to share revenue with the platform.
Investment in local content is key
According to Stoessel, the main factor for success lies in investment in local production. “In today’s media landscape, it’s about producing the best possible content and having the widest possible platform on which to offer it,” he added. Alongside local titles, sports rights and combinations with international content also play an important role.
He illustrated the shift in perception of TV Nova through the evolution of its programming. Whilst it was previously seen as a “tabloid medium”, today more sophisticated series and original productions are also proving popular. Creative director Michal Reitler deserves much of the credit for this, he added.
Data, personalisation and AI as the next step
PPF sees the next phase of development in data and personalisation. According to Stoessel, the group’s advantage lies in the integration of media, telecommunications and financial services, for example through Air Bank. “The future lies in personalisation. The more data you have, the better service you can offer,” he said. He sees inspiration in the different approaches of companies such as Netflix and Amazon, which, thanks to broader data sources, are better able to work with recommendations.
According to him, the rise of artificial intelligence also plays an important role. It enables companies that do not have the global reach of tech giants to work effectively with data. “In the past, this would have required thousands of engineers. Today, thanks to new models, you can manage it far more efficiently,” he said.
PPF is building on the integration of individual segments into a single functional unit. In addition to media and telecommunications, it also incorporates banking and loyalty programmes. The aim is to offer users a unified environment and easier access to services. “When you have an ecosystem and a large part of the population interacts with you on a daily basis, your ability to bring new products to market is completely different,” said Stoessel. This is intended to create a competitive advantage over smaller players.
The expansion of the Oneplay model beyond the Czech Republic is a matter for the near future. Romania, with its twenty million inhabitants, is first in line, followed by Slovakia. Oneplay represents a Czech model for integrating television broadcasting, streaming and telecommunications services, serving as an inspiration and technological blueprint for selected markets. The aim is to develop a unified media ecosystem across the region, rather than exporting a single specific brand. “You need larger markets to be able to finance such a model. That is why we are starting in Romania,” said Stoessel.
Source: mediaguru.cz