Slovakia - TV Markíza
During 2007, TV Markiza supported a number of charitable projects and other good causes. The channel aired several specially dedicated programs to generate awareness and raise money for the chosen projects. As well as individual projects, TV Markiza also operates the TV Markiza Foundation which was set up in 2007 to promote and support social, sports and cultural causes using the power of the Markiza brand.
The popular program Slovak Idol aired a special edition during 2007 which raised money for the children’s foundation Plamienok. The charity treats terminally ill children at home and helps them and their families live through their remaining moments together with the best quality of life possible. The participants of the 2007 series of Slovak Idol raised SKK 469,000 in total, which was donated to the Plamienok hospice. A charity auction of "Mobíci" figurines (popular characters used in T-Mobile’s advertising campaign) and fees donated by the Slovak Idol jury were key features of the fundraising effort.
"Noc filmových nádejí" (Movie Hopes Night) was a project undertaken in support of student movie producing. TV Markiza cooperated with high schools and universities to identify filmmaking talent and on 18 August 2007 five hours of broadcasting were devoted exclusively to the airing of student movies. The viewers were invited to vote for the best movie and the winner was awarded the financial prize of 100.000 SKK. The winner was Jiří Slezák of Tomáš Bati University whose film "Stopař" was about deception and love.
On the show "Bailando", TV Markiza gives participants the opportunity to fulfil their dreams by dancing with famous celebrities. On a charity special edition of the show, participants were the relatives and friends of people suffering from illnesses, handicaps or unfortunate social situations. By taking part in the show, participants were able to raise money and awareness to help support their loved one. Viewers donated via SMS messaging and the money raised was divided so as to fulfil the dreams of the competitors. The outcomes of the project included the purchase of a wheelchair for a disabled person and financial resources needed for a non-cosmetic plastic surgery operation. Bailando was a feature of the spring broadcasting structure from April through till June 2007.
"2007 project" was a review of the year which aired in December 2007 and looked back at the most important and dramatic events that had taken place in Slovakia throughout the year. A bus crash in Hriňová and the explosion of the munitions warehouse in Nováky were two of the tragedies highlighted during the show. The stories were presented with an emotional angle, looking at how the events had unfolded and how they had impacted people’s lives. The show’s presenter, Vilo Rozboril, invited guests from the general public who were having a difficult or testing time in their life to join him and talk about their experiences. Guests included a five year old boy who demonstrated an exceptionally high level of intelligence and the parents of Siamese twins who had died after a complicated and difficult operation. As an act of goodwill, TV Markíza offered its guests the assistance they needed, financial or otherwise, to ease or overcome their problems.
