Andrea Pálffy-Belányiová, a mainstay of Slovakian news broadcasting, celebrated her 50th birthday on March 2nd, marking two decades of service with JOJ television. The veteran journalist currently anchors the evening news program Noviny and also appears on JOJ 24.
Andrea Pálffy-Belányiová (Zdroj: TV Joj)
Andrea Pálffy-Belányiová (Zdroj: TV Joj)
Pálffy-Belányiová’s journey to the broadcast booth was a surprising one, as she revealed she stumbled into the role almost by accident. “I went to an audition because a classmate from university asked me to go with her. She wasn’t selected, but I was. To be honest, I don’t know why they chose me, because I had absolutely no experience,” she explained in an interview with jojkársky web. “I wasn’t the type of child who would recite or be expressive, so it was a real stroke of luck.”
Before joining JOJ, Pálffy-Belányiová honed her skills as a reporter for regional television stations, and also worked at STV and TA3. Her career began with on-the-ground reporting before transitioning to the anchor desk.
Andrea Pálffy-Belányiová (Zdroj: Ján Zemiar)
JOJ Television Also Celebrates an Anniversary
Alongside Pálffy-Belányiová’s milestone birthday, JOJ television is also celebrating 24 years as a leading multimedia brand in Slovakia. The network is marking the occasion with strong digital projects on JOJ play, a significant social media presence, and a prime-time lineup featuring both established hits and major sporting events.
JOJ began broadcasting on March 2nd, 2002, and has since established itself as a prominent voice in Slovakian media. The network has steadily grown, expanded its programming, and strengthened its news division, becoming a fixture in households across the country.
What began as a regional broadcaster in Košice has evolved into a powerful brand with a clear identity. With the tagline “S VAMI” (“With You”), JOJ defines its relationship with viewers, aiming to offer content that appeals to all demographics and reflects life in Slovakia.
“Even after 24 years in the television market, the JOJ Group maintains a dynamic of growth and a desire to bring viewers new projects, strong stories, and genre diversity,” said Marcel Grega, Director of the JOJ Group. “Today, We see the largest media group in Slovakia, a leader in original Slovak series production, and a strong supporter of Slovak cinema. Our journey from a regional broadcaster to a stable and strong media group is built on innovation, the courage to change, and the ability to listen to audience expectations. Symbolically, on the day of the anniversary, we are also introducing a program change with the transformation of the WAU channel into JOJ KRIMI, which will strengthen our thematic portfolio. We thank viewers for their long-term trust, which motivates us to continue and move forward in the years to come.”
JOJ currently offers one of the most diverse ranges of television genres on the market – from original series, Slovak, Czech, and foreign films, entertainment and competition formats, shows, magazines, lifestyle programs, to news and major sporting events. The network aims to cover current topics relevant to Slovakia, both in its news coverage and in its dramatic original productions.
Recently, JOJ reaffirmed its position as a trusted news source, with a survey by Median SK indicating that 20.5% of respondents consider its news coverage to be the most objective in Slovakia, as of October-December 2025.
Viewers consistently praise JOJ’s modern station graphics, the quality of its program promos, and its popular presenters and actors. The network aims to be a television station that everyone can relate to – a close and accessible source of information and entertainment.
Adapting to New Viewing Habits
Over the past 24 years, the television landscape has changed dramatically, with new platforms and viewing habits emerging. JOJ is responding by combining strong linear broadcasting with a growing digital presence, particularly through its streaming platform, JOJ play. JOJ play currently has over 800,000 registered users, with access to channels TV JOJ, JOJ PLUS, JOJ KRIMI, and JOJ 24 for free.
A premium section offers acquired titles, original projects created specifically for JOJ play, and titles premiering on the platform several days before their linear television debut. The platform also features a rich sports offering, including the Slovak Hockey League, league competitions, sports podcasts, and access to JOJ Šport and JOJ Šport 2 within the Premium package.
The new series Miša v Košiciach has enjoyed a successful launch on JOJ play, generating significant positive buzz and becoming the most-watched title on the platform in February. The comedy offers a fresh energy, authentic Košice locations, and humor.
JOJ play has also recently launched a new travel series, Dve tváre sveta (Two Faces of the World), featuring well-known Slovak traveler Martin Navrátil. The series offers an authentic road trip experience without filters or mainstream routes, with the first two episodes focusing on India and Brazil.
Strong Social Media Presence
JOJ is also a leading media brand on social media, becoming the first Slovak television station to surpass 700,000 fans on Facebook, where it now has over 783,000 followers and ranks among the TOP Facebook pages in Slovakia. The network reaches 4 to 6 million users monthly, generating approximately 55 million video views and several million interactions.
On Instagram, TV JOJ has over 323,000 followers, reaching approximately 2 million accounts monthly and recording over 20 million impressions. On TikTok, with 413,000 followers, it is one of the strongest media profiles in Slovakia, averaging 5.3 million video views and approximately one million interactions per month.
The TV JOJ YouTube channel has 1,355,000 subscribers, with a total of 2.7 billion views since its inception and a stable position among the TOP Slovak channels – currently 7th in subscribers and 2nd in video views.
The JOJ Group is also active on LinkedIn, sharing program successes, partnerships, and job opportunities, and on Threads, where it is building a community with over 31,000 followers.
Upcoming Sports Highlights
JOJ will broadcast the Ice Hockey World Championship from Switzerland in May, and will premiere coverage of the FIFA World Cup from Mexico, the USA, and Canada in June. Both global events will be broadcast on JOJ’s linear channels and also available on JOJ play.
Prime-Time Lineup
JOJ’s prime-time lineup will feature a stable and well-structured program schedule, combining strong entertainment with programs that enrich viewers. The network has recently strengthened its offering with knowledge-based formats, offering attractive family entertainment. The return of Mama, ožeň ma will air on Mondays at 8:40 PM, followed by the Czech crime series Polda. Tuesdays at 8:40 PM will feature the popular quiz display Inkognito with Vlado Voštinár, with another episode following at 10:00 PM. Wednesdays will feature the series Osud, followed by Polda at 10:00 PM. Thursdays will showcase the knowledge-entertainment show Dobre vedieť with Rastislav Sokol and team captains Zuzana Kubovčíková Šebová and Juraj Logo, followed by a replay of Mama, ožeň ma. Fridays will traditionally feature the large family entertainment show Milujem Slovensko, hosted by Martin Nikodým with team captains Adela Vinczeová and Matej “Sajf” Cifrom.
Weekend prime-time will feature film evenings with attractive titles and premieres.
Fall Season Promises Strong Titles
The fall season will bring new series, including Najvyšší čas and Kriminálna Jastrab with Milan Ondrík, and the successful comedy Miša v Košiciach will continue. The network will also launch the show V siedmom nebi and continue with the format A sme tu!, featuring interviews with individuals from the autism spectrum.
After 24 years, JOJ enters a new phase as a modern multimedia brand, combining strong news coverage, original productions, major entertainment formats, and significant sporting events with a growing digital audience. The network aims to remain close to its viewers, reflect the issues facing Slovakia, and deliver content that connects generations. With the trust it has built over 24 years, JOJ is ready to continue – S VAMI.
