WHEN ADS DON’T STOP THE RACE: HOW BRANDS CARVE OUT A PLACE IN WINTER SPORTS STORYLINES?

22. 2. 2026 Winter sports events are more than just ad space for brands – they are fully formed worlds with a distinct atmosphere, visual identity, and an audience that knows exactly why it is watching. That’s why campaigns work best when they don’t try to overpower the action but instead build on it. From the nighttime energy of the Winter X Games to the alpine precision of the World Cup, to the calm intensity of the biathlon range, it’s clear that when a creative concept respects the event’s pace, aesthetics, and values, advertising stops being an interruption. It becomes a continuation of the experience. Progressive prime-time revolution Anyone who considers themselves a fan of modern winter sports like snowboarding or freeskiing undoubtedly knows the Winter X Games. Held every year – usually in January – in Aspen, Colorado, they serve as a key showcase of the very best in Big Air, Slopestyle, SuperPipe, and many other disciplines. A significant portion of the programme takes place in the evening and at night, meaning the event is designed from the start for television prime time. The schedule is carefully planned well in advance to fit ABC and ESPN broadcast slots while also accommodating streaming on ESPN platforms. This setup aligns with the established aesthetics of the event and explains the enormous interest from advertisers wanting to be visible at an event of this scale.

RADIO ADVERTISING GREW BY TWO PER CENT IN 2025, BUT THE MARKET SLOWED DOWN

20. 2. 2026 Although the overall increase in net investment in radio advertising did not keep pace with previous years, it still showed a slight increase of two per cent. The significant reduction in advertising on Czech Radio last year did not help commercial stations.

STUDY BY BARB: LIVE TV STILL ACCOUNTS FOR 45% OF VIEWING AS STREAMING HITS 38% IN 2025

19. 2. 2026 Barb has published a new report, What People Watched in 2025, arguing that UK viewing habits are better explained by adaptation than a clean break from linear television.

END OF FREE BROADCASTING? EUROPE DISCUSSES THE FUTURE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS CAUTIOUS

19. 2. 2026 The debate on the future of terrestrial television and analogue radio is shifting towards regulatory decisions. While France is predicting the end of terrestrial broadcasting within ten years and Slovakia has already abandoned free-to-air commercial stations, Britain is retaining FM until at least 2032. Czechia is currently focusing on stability and gradual evolution.

SUPER BOWL LX ATTRACTS NEARLY 125 MILLION U.S. VIEWERS

18. 2. 2026 Viewing peaked at a record 137.8 million; 128.2 million in the U.S. viewed Bad Bunny’s halftime show, which also set records on social media.

ADFORUM: THE MOST APPRECIATED CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR IS “PRICE PACKS” BY PENNY

18. 2. 2026 According to a report by AdForum, the most creative awards last year went to German retailer Penny's "Price Packs" campaign.

VAB STUDY: SOCIAL MEDIA HAS NO CHANCE OF HELPING SMALL BRANDS BREAK THROUGH WITHOUT ADVERTISING ON STREAMING TV

17. 2. 2026 Today’s VAB webinar showed that while social media is popular among advertisers, it is far from a silver bullet. It’s true that it is easy to buy, easy to measure, and allows for quick testing. But there is one major problem: new research shows that its effect on new brands is limited and absolutely insufficient for breakthrough success. However, when streaming TV is added as an additional channel alongside social media, brands achieve significantly greater attention, better recall, and higher purchase intent.

HOW LUNAR NEW YEAR BECAME A MARKETING MOMENT

17. 2. 2026 The holiday can be a playground for cultural appreciation, but marketers should take care when showing up around significant moments, one exec told us.

THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IS UPON US. DIOR WELCOMES IT WITH A COLLECTION AND A SHORT FILM IN BAROQUE STYLE

17. 2. 2026 Tuesday, 17 February marked the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Horse. Dior welcomes it with a new collection, accompanied by a new short film. The film was directed by Nina Gantz and Renée Zhan from the London-based production studio Blinkink.

SPRING TV IS COMING: BULDOK Z PODĚBRAD AGAINST ASIA EXPRESS, ALSO FEATURING PEOPLE AND HORSES

17. 2. 2026 While Czech Television launched most of its new programmes in January, Nova and Prima are only now entering the key part of the season. The most interesting battle is expected on weekends, when premiere formats will face off, led by the travel reality show Asia Express and the new series Buldok z Poděbrad.

TV ADVERTISING WITH A TASTE OF ITALY: BRANDS LIKE FERRERO, APEROL, FIAT AND GUCCI CONQUERED THE WORLD

16. 2. 2026 It’s gloomy outside, and even in Italy, where the XXV Winter Olympic Games are underway, the weather isn’t looking much better. Still, Italy has its unmistakable, unique atmosphere, one that resonates emotionally and can be conveyed from the screen into our homes through TV ads that feel warm, gently slow down time, and celebrate not just the product but the lifestyle around it. But what about Italians? What is the history of Italian advertising, what makes it distinctive, and which Italian brands have conquered the world through TV ads?

SPEED SKATING CURRENTLY LEADS THE RATINGS FOR THE WINTER OLYMPICS ON ČT SPORT

16. 2. 2026 The first week of Olympic broadcasts on ČT sport has so far been dominated by speed skating, with ice hockey in third place.

ADC CZECH CREATIVE AWARDS ANNOUNCES JURIES

13. 2. 2026 This year's 33rd edition of the ADC Czech Creative Awards 2026 announces the composition of its juries.

ADVERTISING WORTHY OF THE BIG SCREEN. SQUARESPACE TEAMS UP WITH EMMA STONE AND YORGOS LANTHIMOS IN NEW COMMERCIAL

13. 2. 2026 American technology company Squarespace, which focuses on website creation, brought together Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone and acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos in its latest advert for Sunday's Super Bowl. The result is a cinematic spot full of frustration.

LOVE, DATA AND PAPRIKA SAUCE: WHAT WILL CZECH VALENTINE’S DAY LOOK LIKE IN 2026?

13. 2. 2026 How are Valentine's Day preparations really going in Czechia? Google search data from February this year painted a picture of what Czechs really want for the holiday of love. AI assistants are helping more and more people with last-minute planning of the evening, menu and ideas.

VALENTINE’S DAY SPENDING SURGES AS CONSUMERS REDEFINE HOW TO CELEBRATE IT

12. 2. 2026 Economic turbulence and global uncertainty haven't stopped Valentine's Day spending from reaching new heights as it takes on unique cultural significance.

PODCAST FIRST LEAGUE: TOMÁŠ HRUŠKA – TV NOVA CREATIVE PRODUCER

12. 2. 2026 As a creative producer at TV Nova, he has two much-talked-about drama series to his credit – Metoda Markovič: Hojer and Metoda Markovič: Straka. For the largest commercial television station, this was a relatively risky bet on a young creative and production team with an original vision a few years ago. The gamble paid off, and Nova now has high-quality, award-winning works that are popular with viewers and have won film awards. Creative producer Tomáš Hruška was a guest on the První liga podcast.

FROM DOORDASH TO CLASH OF CLANS, THESE ARE THE VALENTINE’S DAY CAMPAIGNS WE’RE LOVING

12. 2. 2026 From playful product truths to bromance-fueled gaming and culture-led stunts, this year’s Valentine’s Day campaigns show brands moving beyond traditional romance to celebrate connection in all its forms.