Czech News Center

The company is the legal successor to Ringier Axel Springer CZ, whose Czech publishing operations were acquired from Ringier and Axel Springer by Daniel Křetínský and Patrik Tkáč in 2014.

• Name — Czech News Center • Type — Akciová společnost • Predecessor — Ringier Axel Springer CZ a.s. • Industry — Mass media • Hq Location City — Prague • Hq Location Country — Czech Republic • Area Served — Czech Republic • Key People — Martina Říhová (CEO and chair) • Parent — Czech Media Invest a.s. • Revenue — 2.050 billion (2024) • Operating Income — −422.0 million (2024) • Net Income — −421.5 million (2024) • Assets — 2.546 billion (2024) • Num Employees — 933 (2024) • Website — https: www.cncenter.cz/en/

The company's predecessor, Ringier Axel Springer CZ, was the Czech subsidiary of Ringier Axel Springer Media, a joint venture between the Swiss publisher Ringier and Germany's Axel Springer SE. In December 2013, Ringier Axel Springer Media agreed to sell its Czech operations, including Ringier Axel Springer CZ and its stake in the press distributor První novinová společnost, to Czech businessmen Daniel Křetínský and Patrik Tkáč. The company was valued at €170 million. The acquisition was completed in 2014, and the Czech publishing business became part of Czech News Center. Its portfolio included the daily newspapers Blesk, Aha! and Sport, together with magazines and online media. In 2016, the group expanded its portfolio with media assets formerly published by Mladá fronta, including the business newspaper E15 and more than a dozen magazines and websites.

Czech News Center publishes newspapers, magazines and digital media. Its principal news and magazine brands include the tabloid daily Blesk, the sports daily Sport, Aha!, the weekly Reflex, the business news outlet e15 and the automotive magazine Svět motorů. The company also publishes children's, lifestyle, automotive and specialist titles, including ABC, Mateřídouška and Lidé a Země. The company's publications are accompanied by a substantial digital-media operation. Its main online properties include Blesk.cz, iSport.cz, Reflex.cz and e15.cz. Printing is carried out through Czech Print Center, which operates printing facilities in Prague and Ostrava. The facilities produce newspapers and other publications for Czech News Center as well as external customers. Czech News Center also holds a 27.02% interest in První novinová společnost (PNS), one of the main distributors of newspapers and magazines in the Czech Republic. The other major shareholders are Mafra and Vltava Labe Media.