Slovakia set for new sports channel

Slovakian public-service broadcaster RTVS plans to launch a new sports channel ahead of the country’s staging of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championship in 2019.

RTVS currently operates two channels, and new chief executive Jaroslav Reznik told the Medialne website of plans to double this through the new sports channel, plus an online-only youth-orientated channel.

While no fixed launch dates are in place for the new channels, Reznik said the sports platform is likely to debut in the spring of 2019, ahead of the IIHF World Championship scheduled from May 3-19.

Alternatively, the new channel could become operational ahead of the 2020 summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.