iDNES.cz
iDNES.cz is one of the largest Czech online news portals, operated by MAFRA, a.s. since 1998, serving Czech-speaking consumers with national and regional news, sports, lifestyle content, video, and a real estate marketplace, monetized through advertising, Premium subscriptions, and licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersCestlice, Czechia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What iDNES.cz does
iDNES.cz is a Czech-language online news portal launched in 1998 and operated by MAFRA, a.s., a privately held Czech media group headquartered in Prague. It functions as a general-interest national news destination covering domestic and international affairs, politics, economics, sports (football, hockey, tennis, cycling, Formula 1), culture, and lifestyle, with dedicated editorial sections for all 14 Czech regions and a roster of vertical magazines (OnaDNES, Auto, Bydlení, Technet, Mobil, Cestování, Hobby, Xman). The platform is built on a standard web CMS with mobile-responsive design, dedicated iOS and Android apps, an integrated video platform (iDNES TV) with live streaming and slow-TV formats, and adjacent utility products including a weather service, TV program guide, recipe database, real estate marketplace (Reality.iDNES.cz), cinema listings, quizzes, podcasts, and a blog hosting network.
The business operates a freemium model with five revenue streams: targeted digital advertising across display, video, and sponsored content (distributed via Google, Facebook, Sklik, and Czech Publisher Exchange); recurring iDNES Premium subscriptions at 49 Kč/month and 199 Kč/month, providing ad-free access, e-newspapers, e-magazines, audiobooks, and event pre-sales; content licensing of articles and imagery to third-party archives and publishers; marketplace commissions from Reality.iDNES.cz real estate listings; and event sponsorships around marquee properties such as the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via web, mobile apps, and email newsletters, with cross-promotion across the MAFRA network (Lidovky.cz, Expres.cz, Metro.cz, Antiyoutuber.cz). The company disclosed 1,092,751 average monthly active recipients for the July-December 2025 DSA reporting period and operates under EU consent-management frameworks (Didomi, IAB Europe TCF) implementing a Pay or OK model.
iDNES.cz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- iDNES.cz
- Legal name
- MAFRA, a.s.
- Website
- https://idnes.cz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- iDNES.cz is one of the largest Czech online news portals, operated by MAFRA, a.s. since 1998, serving Czech-speaking consumers with national and regional news, sports, lifestyle content, video, and a real estate marketplace, monetized through advertising, Premium subscriptions, and licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
iDNES.cz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online News Portal
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aggregator/Platform Channels & Marketplace Bundles (Channel Stores, Super-Aggregators) (MPABAHAM)
Keywords
Where iDNES.cz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cestlice
- HQ country
- Czechia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
iDNES.cz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Premium Subscriptions: iDNES Premium subscription service generating recurring revenue at 199 Kč per month, providing ad-free access and premium content. Also 49 Kč/month for monthly access to all articles.
- Digital Advertising: Targeted advertising revenue through display ads, behavioral retargeting, and sponsored content. Uses multiple ad systems including Google, Facebook, Sklik, and Czech Publisher Exchange.
- Content Licensing: Licensing of articles, photographs, and video content to third parties including commercial media archives and other publishers.
- Real Estate Listings: Reality.iDNES.cz platform providing real estate marketplace services with listings for apartments, houses, and commercial properties.
- Event Sponsorships: Partnership opportunities around major events like Karlovy Vary International Film Festival coverage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | iDNES Premium without ads |
| Subscription | Monthly | Full Premium Access |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Tier with Targeted Advertising |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels11 records
iDNES.cz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
iDNES.cz is a major Czech online news portal publishing domestic and international news, sports, culture, finance, and lifestyle content for Czech-speaking audiences. The platform operates premium subscription services (iDNES Premium) for ad-free access, video streaming through iDNES TV, real estate listings via Reality.iDNES.cz, and a network of related portals including Expres.cz and Lidovky.cz under the MAFRA media group.
Product overview
iDNES.cz is a major Czech online news portal operated by MAFRA, a.s., offering a comprehensive digital media ecosystem. The core product is the iDNES.cz news portal providing general news coverage across domestic, international, economic, cultural, and sports content. The company operates multiple specialized sub-brands including the Expres.cz celebrity portal, Reality.iDNES.cz real estate listings, and Recepty.iDNES.cz recipe portal. Premium subscription services (iDNES Premium) provide ad-free access and digital newspaper editions. Video content is delivered through iDNES TV, while specialized magazine verticals cover lifestyle topics including automotive, home, technology, and travel. Additional services include TV programming guides, weather forecasting, blog hosting, and podcast distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Reality.iDNES.cz: Real estate and property search platform offering listings for apartments, houses, land, and commercial properties across the Czech Republic
- Expres.cz
- iDNES Premium
- iDNES Kino
- iDNES TV
- Recepty.iDNES.cz
Products and services
- iDNES.cz Primary Czech news portal offering breaking news, analysis, and reporting across categories including domestic affairs, international news, economics, culture, sport, and regional coverage for Czech-speaking audiences.
- iDNES Premium Paid subscription service providing unlimited access to all articles on iDNES.cz, Lidovky.cz, Expres.cz, and Antiyoutuber.cz without advertisements, plus digital editions of newspapers and magazines at 199 Kč/month or 49 Kč/month.
- iDNES TV Video content platform featuring live news streaming, on-demand shows, slow TV, and sports coverage including Tour de France, Wimbledon, and FIFA World Cup for Czech viewers.
- Reality.iDNES.cz Real estate listing portal covering properties for sale, rent, and auction across the Czech Republic, including apartments, houses, commercial properties, and land, for individual seekers and real estate professionals.
- Expres.cz Czech celebrity and entertainment news portal covering celebrities, video content, gossip, and lifestyle topics, sharing Premium subscription access with iDNES.cz.
- Recepty.iDNES.cz Recipe portal featuring Czech and international cuisine recipes, meal planning, and dietary categories for home cooks and food enthusiasts.
- iDNES Kino Online cinema service offering film streaming, movie information, and cinema listings for Czech cinema-goers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million monthly active users
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use iDNES.cz
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
iDNES.cz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
iDNES.cz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ProfimediacoreStock photography and image provider supplying visual content for articles. Contributes to editorial quality and visual storytelling across all sections.
- Česká tisková kancelář (ČTK)coreCzech News Agency providing wire news content and breaking news coverage for domestic and international sections.
- ReuterscoreInternational news agency providing foreign news content and wire services for international coverage.
- Associated Press (AP)coreInternational news agency providing foreign news content and multimedia services.
- DidomicoreConsent management platform provider implementing GDPR-compliant cookie consent system and Pay or OK business model for advertising consent.
- Piano SoftwarecoreContent personalization and subscription management platform using AI to recommend articles based on user preferences and behavior. Provides user ID management for Premium subscribers.
- První novinová společnostminorNewspaper distribution partner handling physical delivery of print subscriptions and publications.
- SEND PředplatnéminorSubscription management and distribution service partner for managing print and digital subscription renewals.
- Česká poštaminorCzech Post handling physical newspaper and magazine delivery for print subscribers.
- IAB Europe / CPEXcoreIndustry consortium providing Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) for standardized consent management across European digital advertising ecosystem.
- Expres.czcoreCelebrity and entertainment news portal within MAFRA network, cross-promoting content and sharing Premium subscription access.
- Lidovky.czcoreQuality news portal for Czech intellectual audience, part of MAFRA network with unified Premium subscription access.
- Metro.czminorFree urban newspaper and website targeting Prague commuters, part of MAFRA media portfolio.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
iDNES.cz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Spiegel Online: Major German digital news destination with freemium Plus subscription model. Comparable as a European legacy-publisher-turned-digital news platform with similar monetization mix and EU regulatory exposure.
Broad incumbents
- Reuters: Global news wire and digital news destination. Comparable as both a content supplier to iDNES (partnership) and as a broader incumbent in digital news publishing and content licensing.
- The Guardian: Major European digital-first news outlet with freemium model, app, video, podcasts, and reader-revenue focus. Comparable as a benchmark European digital news subscription and reader-revenue model.
- Associated Press (AP): Global news agency supplying wire content to iDNES and operating its own digital news properties. Relevant as content supplier peer and broader incumbent in news distribution.
Direct peers
- Seznam.cz: Czech search engine and major content portal combining news, email, vertical content, and advertising. Directly comparable as a Czech-language digital destination with overlapping news coverage, advertising business, and audience profile.
- Aktuálně.cz: Czech news portal operated by Economia, covering domestic and international news with Premium subscription offering. Closely comparable in product mix, monetization model (freemium + ads + subscription), and target audience.
- Blesk.cz: Leading Czech tabloid news portal with celebrity, crime, and general news coverage. Competes directly for Czech audience attention, breaking news traffic, and display advertising budgets.
- iROZHLAS.cz: Czech public-service news portal operated by Czech Radio. Comparable as a major Czech digital news destination with strong brand trust, competing for the same news-reading audience.
- Novinky.cz: One of the most-visited Czech news portals operated by Borgis. Competes with iDNES.cz for general news, regional coverage, and digital advertising in the Czech market.
- Deník.cz: Czech regional news network covering all 14 regions with local editors. Most directly comparable to iDNES's regional coverage moat and similar freemium digital news model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
iDNES.cz social profiles
Digital presenceiDNES.cz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
iDNES.cz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
iDNES.cz subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
iDNES.cz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
iDNES.cz M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about iDNES.cz
What does iDNES.cz do?
iDNES.cz is a major Czech online news portal publishing domestic and international news, sports, culture, finance, and lifestyle content for Czech-speaking audiences. The platform operates premium subscription services (iDNES Premium) for ad-free access, video streaming through iDNES TV, real estate listings via Reality.iDNES.cz, and a network of related portals including Expres.cz and Lidovky.cz under the MAFRA media group.
Is iDNES.cz a public or private company?
iDNES.cz is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was iDNES.cz founded?
iDNES.cz was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is iDNES.cz based?
iDNES.cz is headquartered in Cestlice, Czechia, in the Europe region.
How does iDNES.cz make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Premium Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are digital Advertising, content Licensing, real Estate Listings and event Sponsorships.
Who are iDNES.cz's main competitors?
Spiegel Online is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Reuters, The Guardian and Associated Press (AP). Direct peers are Seznam.cz, Aktuálně.cz, Blesk.cz, iROZHLAS.cz, Novinky.cz and Deník.cz.
Does iDNES.cz have an API?
No public API is recorded for iDNES.cz.
What industry is iDNES.cz in?
iDNES.cz's product category is Online News Portal. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAHAM, Aggregator/Platform Channels & Marketplace Bundles (Channel Stores, Super-Aggregators). Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 4833.