Programmers finding it fun to go young

Czech Republic
By WILL TIZARD

PRAGUE -- The Czech Republic's top terrestrial, TV Nova, is stronger than ever in ratings, with the country's three highest-rated nonnews shows in its stable.
But for the first time in years, one of them is a foreign buy: "CSI: Las Vegas," which sits comfortably at the No. 3 spot.

Show has aud shares that have touched nearly 60% among 15-to-54-year-olds, says the station's programming head, David Stogel.

"Last year, we canceled lots of Saturday-night entertainment shows," Stogel says, retiring these variety evenings that skewed toward older auds. "The brand of Nova is much more geared to young audiences."

Grayer viewers are more likely to settle on pubcaster Czech TV as it phases out commercials, which state regulators are reducing to zero by 2008.

Aside from the increased ad revenue that this brings to Nova and smaller rival Prima, the transformation gives the commercial stations a stronger selling point.

Locally produced scripted dramas are doing well and act as warm-ups to the "CSI" franchise on Nova, which airs at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, followed by another local success, "Tele Tele," a Czech sketch-comedy half-hour.

Local reality adaptations are also hits, such as Nova's "112," based on the "Rescue 911" formula. The station is currently pushing "Bailando: I Dance for You," in which local celebs work up dance routines with ordinary people to win things like a needed operation for a relative.

With so many hits, Nova can afford to be choosy at Mip, but Stogel adds that the network is " always looking for good new products in either the entertainment area or scripted drama."

For its part, Prima has just hired away a Barrandov film exec, Peter Chajda, who says the station needs "significant work" in developing original shows and building its image.