The hearing is coming, where they will look into each other’s eyes again! Moderator Michal Kovačič has been courting Markíza for almost two years. The reason is his resignation on television, which he received despite the fact that at that time he was also the head of marquis trade unions. Kovačič called it illegal, but even the TV leader, who rejects the violation of the law, does not want to back down.
The opposing parties are therefore preparing documents and arguments for the ears of the judge, who will soon put on his robes again in a closely watched dispute. “The next hearing is scheduled for July 2, 2026 at 9 a.m.,” the source of the Ba portal claims more, this time important witnesses from the case should appear in the courtroom.
A high-ranking member of the Marquis management, as well as a key ace on Michal Kovačič’s side, is to stand under the nose of justice. “Ex-moderator Viktor Vincze should testify,” we found out. Television representatives will thus have to deal with a difficult caliber, as they also got rid of Vincze under dramatic circumstances and avoided another lawsuit. It will be interesting to see what spicy things from behind the scenes of Markíza come to the surface at the beginning of the summer holidays. It is certain that even Záhorská Bystrica will enter the ring with hard boxing gloves.
At the other hearing in December 2025, for example, there was talk of interference in the news, which was mentioned in the past by news editors in an open letter. According to the portal, they described the rejection of the report about the non-investigation of Andrej Danko’s collision with the traffic light, the editor’s withdrawal from the cabinet meeting after she asked the Minister of Defense Robert Kaliňák about the Twilight case, or the efforts to include a non-critical live interview with the Minister of the Interior, Matúš Šutaj Eštok.
The interest of the television management in the content of the news was confirmed at the December court by the chief news editor of Televízny Novín Tibor Mattyašovský: “The editors saw it as something that interfered with their work and they were not used to it. Never before had a director interfered in a report, did not micromanage.” Kovačič also caught on to the word. “Is it in the public interest or in the interest of the owner’s property interests to declare that a guest is a red carpet?” Michal Kovačič asked his former editor-in-chief Mattyašovský in court.
He admitted that he considers the argument he heard from his superior Kratochvíl “not correct”. Michal Kratochvíl was also supposed to testify at the hearing. He appeared in court, Kovačič’s legal representative declared in front of the court that they are no longer asking for his opinion.
The roots of Markíza’s great reputational crisis, which spread throughout Slovakia, go back to the change of owner of the television. Six years ago, as part of CME, it came into the hands of the PPF investment group, which is controlled by the family of the owner Peter Kellner after his death. CEO Matthias Settele resigned and was replaced by Peter Gažík.
He brought a new news chief, Michal Kratochvíl, from Prague’s sister TV Nova, who replaced Henrich Krejča, the face of this position for many years. Kratochvíl came to Bratislava with a vision that many marquises did not identify with. For the first time, Michal Kovačič spoke openly about the fact that things are boiling over there. The war of the presenter and other marquee news stars with television began in May 2024.
Then, at the end of the Na telo show, Michal brought to the cameras what is supposed to happen behind the walls of Záhorská Bystrica. “We face pressure not only from politicians, but also from our own leadership,” declared the moderator at the time and also complained about attempts at censorship in the discussions. “If we don’t stop it, it will have devastating consequences for Slovak democracy,” added a warned against “urbanization”. Television objected sharply and intervened. She accused Kovačič of grossly abusing the live broadcast and of not telling the truth.
“We consider the actions of Michal Kovačič as our employee a gross violation of work discipline and we do not count on him as the face of Markíza TV.” responded at the time the head of television, Peter Gažík, for the portal He was talking about a deep loss of trust.
Uncritical overtaking by coalition politicians was also mentioned. “Marquise reiterates that it will not allow its broadcasting to be misused in political battles or manipulated in favor of any political group. The television will continue to apply an impartial approach, which is appreciated by the majority of the public and which is also confirmed by independent quantitative and qualitative surveys,” the TV’s PR department said in the past.
He was fired despite the fact that Kovačič headed the union and they did not agree with his resignation. The law prohibits this, and therefore the dispute ended up in court. “Although I worked at Markíza for sixteen years, the end happened very quickly. About a year ago, on Sunday in Na telo, I spoke publicly about interventions in the news, and on Monday I was told that I had so-called ‘obstacles at work’ and that I should stay at home. And within an hour, not even my email was working anymore,” said Kovačič, adding that the most emotional moment came when he and his colleagues came to say hello, they took pictures in black clothes and he was standing on the other side of the fence like them. After leaving, he founded an online news agency
Kovačič added, already in For many years, a strong and independent news service was built in the Marquis, which replaced public television. “It brought television not only viewership, but also a good name. And it was very important to fight for it to last. Even if against huge odds,” remarked Michal, who was supported by 130 Markíza employees and associates.
Among them is Viktor Vincze, who took over the leadership of the marquis trade union after him. He also ended up on television. The editor Gabriela Kajtárová also left Záhorská Bystrica with a bang. “The reassignment of the best moderator to some ridiculous website (TN Live, editor’s note) and the subsequent dismissal just nailed it. For me, it was the last straw — professionally, but mainly humanly,” stated Kajtárová, who also mentioned interventions in the content and pressure to approach coalition politicians uncritically in the news.
According to her, the most visible change in news reporting was the relegation of political reports within the news queue and giving preference to, for example, the topic of weather. The Marquise did not give her anything. “The reason for leaving cannot be the belief that individual personal opinions and attitudes should determine the structure and dramaturgy of the broadcast. The responsibility for the content of the broadcast is indivisible and is borne exclusively by the management of the television.” the TV’s PR department said. “TV Markíza considers it unacceptable for any of its presenters to act in a way that damages their own employer and disparages the work of the entire team,” the Marquise responded at the time.
Chief Peter Gažík added: “We are a private media that has the competence and authority to freely decide how it sees its future. If someone disagrees with it, that’s their free decision and I think it’s better for the admiring parties that we communicate about it openly and transparently.” said Gažík.
The director of Markíza considers it unacceptable if their faces damage the employer’s name and disparage the work of the entire team. She talks about more colorful and diverse content, which raises her viewership numbers. “TV Markíza has never allowed – and will not allow – its reporting to become a tool of any of the competing political parties,” sent from Záhorská Bystrica. She had previously vehemently denied all the accusations. “Marquise reiterates that it will not allow its broadcasting to be misused in political battles or manipulated in favor of any political group. The television will continue to apply an impartial approach, which is appreciated by the majority of the public and which is also confirmed by independent quantitative and qualitative surveys,” the PR department said.
