The programme is the first to span both countries since their peaceful split in 1993, and the first show to include Czech- and Slovakian-speaking presenters since Czecho-Slovak Television (CST) went off-air in 1992. Cesko Slovenska SuperStar is hugely significant for FremantleMedia Central and Eastern Europe, who have been negotiating a bi-lingual entertainment format with a variety of Czech and Slovakian broadcasters since 2007. Finally, Czech broadcaster, TV Nova and Slovakian broadcaster, TV Markiza won the contract for a Czecho-Slovak version of Idols at Mip TV in Cannes last April.
The jury of Cesko Slovenska SuperStar
Andrea Gavacova, Regional Manager of FremantleMedia Central and Eastern Europe says: “Whilst the older generation has never stopped feeling Czechoslovakian, the younger generation is losing touch and has not grown up bi-lingual like their parents. Programmes like Cesko Slovenska SuperStar will ensure that both languages and cultures are kept in the mainstream of both countries.”
The show was launched on 6 September and proved to be a huge success for both broadcasters, with the first programme winning a 51 per cent audience share on TV Nova and 45 per cent of total audience on TV Markiza. The bilingual programme will reach its finale just before Christmas and is expected to achieve record-breaking results.
21 September 2009 - FremantleMedia, United Kingdom