Ceska tiskova kancelar, a.s.

Name

Ceska tiskova kancelar, a.s.

Legal name

Česká tisková kancelář, a.s.

Website

https://ctk.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. News Subscription Services: ČTK generates primary revenue through subscription-based news services providing daily 450-600 news reports, approximately 300 photographs, and multimedia content including audio and video to media clients, government institutions, and corporations.
2. Photo and Video Licensing: Revenue from licensing photographs and video content through Fotobanka and Superfotobanka platforms to media, publishers, commercial firms, and individuals. Profimedia generates nearly 130 million CZK annually from photograph licensing.
3. Protext PR Services: PR communication services including press release distribution in Czech Republic and internationally through ČTK Connect. Text releases are stored in Infobanka, accessible via ČTK app, and delivered to 6,000 email subscribers.
4. Video Production Services: Professional video services including live streaming, video recording, and distribution to media. Pricing from 17,000 Kč to 39,500 Kč per 2-hour session plus additional services.
5. Event Venue Rental: PressCentrum ČTK rental for press conferences, events, workshops, and meetings in Prague city center with full technical support and live streaming capabilities.
6. Educational Programs: Akademie ČTK offers media training and educational courses in-person and online for individuals, companies, and associations. Courses include journalism, PR, social media law, and media skills.
7. Real Estate Rental: Rental of office spaces in ČTK buildings at Opletalova (Prague 1) and Žirovnická (Prague 10), including warehouses, operational rooms, and parking spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Česká tisková kancelář (ČTK) is the Czech national news agency producing and distributing comprehensive multimedia news content—delivering 450-600 daily text reports, 300+ photographs, video news, audio recordings, and infographics. It also operates a photo bank (Profimedia/Superfotobanka with 200M+ images), the ČTK Connect commercial platform offering PR distribution, press conferences, video streaming, and media training, plus searchable databases (Infobanka, ProFakta, Prodata) for professional subscribers.

Product overview

Česká tisková kancelář (ČTK) is a public law corporation and Czech national news agency operating a comprehensive multi-platform news and media services portfolio. The core offering centers on the ČTK Zpravodajství (News Service) delivering 450-600 daily text reports, supplemented by specialized services including Economic News, Sports News, English News, Headline Service, Video News, Photo News, Audio News, and Infographic News. Non-news commercial services are unified under the ČTK Connect platform encompassing Protext (PR services for Czech Republic and international), Protext Video (live streaming and video recording), Content Specials, PressCentrum (event venue rental), and Akademie ČTK (media training). Supporting platforms include Infobanka (searchable database), Superfotobanka (combined with Profimedia for 200M+ photographs), ČTK24 News Report, IRIS NG, and MRS multimedia editorial system. The company reaches audiences through Ceskenoviny.cz, mobile applications, and distribution partnerships with European media organizations. ČTK operates without state subsidies and maintains political and financial independence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ČTK Connect: PR services, video streaming, content specials, and event space rentals including PressCentrum ČTK
• ČTK24 News Report
• Profimedia
• České noviny
• Protext
• Akademie ČTK

Products and services

• ČTK News Service (Zpravodajství) Comprehensive multilingual news service delivering 450-600 daily text reports from domestic and international sources covering economics, politics, culture, and sports, distributed to media, government, and corporate subscribers.
• Economic News (Ekonomické zpravodajství)
• Sports News (Sportovní zpravodajství) Daily coverage averaging 130 current sports news items with results from major matches and competitions, including economic aspects of sports.
• English News (Zpravodajství v angličtině)
• Headline Service ČTK Fastest news on the market with short reports up to 144 characters directly from ČTK reporters in the field, designed for media, government, PR agencies, and companies.
• Video News (Videozpravodajství) Professionally produced news videos covering domestic events and footage from important news occasions, with approximately 100 video recordings published monthly.
• Audio News (Zvukové zpravodajství) More than 20 daily audio recordings of statements from politicians, artists, athletes, and other personalities in Czech and Slovak languages.
• Superfotobanka / Profimedia Photo Bank Combined photo platform from ČTK Fotobanka and Profimedia offering over 200 million photographs from 350+ sources including AP, AFP, Magnum, dpa, Splash, and imago across Central and Eastern Europe.
• Infobanka Database Comprehensive searchable database with full-text search capability across multiple databases simultaneously, accessible via web browser for professional subscribers.
• ČTK24 News Report Real-time news monitoring and reporting platform for continuous coverage updates.
• ČTK Connect Umbrella brand unifying all ČTK non-news services including PR services (Protext), video services, content specials, and PressCentrum for event hosting and media communication.
• Protext ČR (Domestic PR Distribution) PR distribution service using ČTK channels to reach media subscribers, businesses, and government representatives in the Czech Republic, with free photo, video, and graphics included.
• Protext International (Protext zahraničí) International PR distribution via Newswire network reaching users worldwide within 24 hours, with optional country, location, and language targeting.
• Protext Video Professional video services including live streaming and video recording of press conferences, debates, and events with guaranteed media distribution via Ceskenoviny.cz, Facebook, and YouTube. Pricing from 17,000 to 39,500 Kč per 2-hour session.
• PressCentrum ČTK Event venue rental for press conferences, events, workshops, and meetings in central Prague with full technical support, live streaming capabilities, and access to additional ČTK services.
• Akademie ČTK Media training and educational courses in-person and online, including seminars and webinars for individuals, companies, and organizations covering journalism, PR, social media law, and media skills.
• Četkast Podcast Weekly podcast featuring news, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content from ČTK journalists, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
• Pronájmy ČTK (Office and Warehouse Rentals) Office and warehouse rental services at ČTK buildings in Opletalova (Prague 1) and Žirovnická (Prague 10) locations, including warehouses, operational rooms, and parking spaces.
• Crisis Communication Service (Servis pro krizovou komunikaci) Crisis communication services providing fastest news coverage directly from ČTK reporters in the field for government institutions and corporate clients.
• ProFakta Business Database Business database providing structured company information and corporate data for business intelligence and research.
• Prodata Corporate Data Service Corporate data service for business information and company intelligence.
• IRIS NG News Delivery Platform News delivery platform for websites and digital platforms enabling automated content publishing.
• Multimediální redakční systém MRS Multimedia editorial system for managing and distributing news content across multiple platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ news items published daily
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• APA (Austria Press Agency)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2022Austrian press agency partnership for video streaming distribution to Austrian and neighboring markets through APA-OTS platform.
• Czech Photo CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Partnership with Czech Photo Centre for hosting traveling photo exhibitions at their Prague location.
• dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2022Partnership in European video alliance (EVAnews) for sharing news videos with European agencies. ČTK joined dpa, Belga, Adnkronos, and Europa Press in this consortium supported by the European Commission.
• BelgacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2022Belgian news agency partner in European video alliance (EVAnews) for sharing news videos with European agencies.
• AdnkronoscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2022Italian news agency partner in European video alliance (EVAnews) for sharing news videos with European agencies.
• Europa PresscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2022Spanish news agency partner in European video alliance (EVAnews) for sharing news videos with European agencies.
• ContrastominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022International documentary photography agency participating in Pix.T blockchain photography project.
• NOORminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Global multilingual collective of documentary photographers participating in Pix.T blockchain photography project.
• PAP (Polska Agencja Prasowa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Polish national news agency participating in Pix.T blockchain photography project.
• WorldcrunchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022International English-language media platform participating in Pix.T blockchain photography project.
• ProfimediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021ČTK acquired Profimedia, the largest photo bank in Central Europe, creating the 'Superfotobanka' with over 200 million photographs. Profimedia operates in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Macedonia.
• Univerzita Karlova (FSV UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ČTK cooperates with Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University on journalism education. ČTK provides a semester course on agency journalism taught by ČTK journalists directly at ČTK headquarters.
• Letní filmová škola (LFŠ)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019ČTK is one of the main media partners of the Summer Film School festival in Uherské Hradiště, organizing photo exhibitions, workshops, and podcast recordings.
• AP (Associated Press)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009AP is one of the major international photo sources represented by ČTK, providing global news photographs to Czech and Slovak markets.
• AFP (Agence France-Presse)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009AFP is one of the major international photo sources represented by ČTK, providing global news photographs to Czech and Slovak markets.
• Magnum PhotoscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009Prestigious international photo agency represented by ČTK, offering premium documentary and news photography.
• dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009German press agency represented by ČTK for Czech and Slovak markets.
• TASR (Tisková agentúra Slovenskej republiky)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Slovak national news agency sharing historical Czechoslovak news agency photographs for exhibitions and archives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• PR Newswire (Cision): Global PR distribution incumbent and direct competitor to ČTK Protext for international press release distribution via the Newswire network.

Broad incumbents

• AFP (Agence France-Presse): Global French-headquartered wire service and a major photo supplier/competitor through Superfotobanka distribution.
• Reuters / Thomson Reuters: Global wire service operating at much larger scale across news, photo, and video; competing with ČTK primarily in international photo syndication and multilingual news supply.
• Getty Images: Global stock-photo and editorial imagery incumbent; most direct competitor to Profimedia/Superfotobanka in editorial and commercial photo licensing at international scale.
• Associated Press (AP): One of the largest global wire services; serves as both photo source and competitor to ČTK Fotobanka/Profimedia in photo licensing.

Direct peers

• dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur): German national wire service and EVAnews alliance co-member; direct competitor-supplier peer via photo source agreement and shared video platform.
• Belga News Agency: Belgian national news agency co-founding EVAnews with ČTK; same B2B wire-service and government-institution customer profile.
• TASR (Tisková agentúra Slovenskej republiky): Slovak national news agency, the closest direct peer: same wire-service model, shared Czechoslovak archival history, and active content-sharing partnership with ČTK.
• PAP (Polska Agencja Prasowa): Polish national news agency operating the same public-interest wire model; direct peer in regional agency alliances including Pix.T.
• APA (Austria Presse Agentur): Austrian national news agency and direct DACH-region peer; active channel partner for ČTK video distribution via APA-OTS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTK_cz
• Facebookfacebook.com/CTK.cz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/czech-news-agency-ctk-
• Instagraminstagram.com/czechnewsagency

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ceska tiskova kancelar, a.s.