Minimax is a European pay television channel aimed at children, broadcasting to Central European countries including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, ex-Yugoslav countries, Romania and Moldova. Minimax's policy goals include edutainment and non-violent programs. As of 2018, the channel runs 24 hours a day. Previously, since 2000, Minimax timeshared with Musicmax, Game One, ITV Hungary, M+, Cool, Animax and C8 over the years. As the channel broadcasts in multiple countries in multiple languages with the same schedule, program trailers and other presentation elements do not feature written information.
History
Minimax was launched in Hungary on 6 December 1999. At launch, the channel aired only between 18:00-20:00 CET. Until 3 March 2000, it gradually extended its broadcast hours, and from that date onwards, the channel aired between 06:00-20:00 CET until 31 December 2017. On 2 May 2000, a regional version of the French television channel Game One began timesharing with Minimax, broadcasting between 20:00-06:00 CET. In 1 June 2001, Minimax launched in Romania. On 27 August 2001, ITV Hungary took over Game One's time space. On 9 February 2003, ITV Hungary closed down. Later that year, Minimax launched in Slovakia. On 15 September 2004, Minimax launched in Czech Republic, taking over the channel space of the defunct TV channel Supermax. On 15 September 2003, M+ took over the evening slot. On 4 September 2004, M+ merged with Humor 1 and renamed as Cool. When it was still called M+, it has operated independently from Minimax beginning in 6 December 2003. On 4 December 2004, A+ Anime began timesharing with Minimax, replacing Cool. On 6 September 2006, Sony Pictures Television International acquired A+ and later relaunched it as Animax on 2 July 2007. In June 2007, Chellomedia acquired Minimax from the original owner. Later that year, the channel launched in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia. Animax broadcast for the last time in the region on 31 March 2014, and was relaunched as C8 on 1 April 2014 in Hungary and 5 May 2014 in Romania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. On 30 December 2015, C8 closed down in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania. Since that time, Minimax is 24/7 in those countries. On 5 October 2017, AMC announced that Minimax would go 24/7 in Hungary. In December 2017, it was announced that Minimax would operate for 24 hours per day in Serbia by New Year's Eve. On 1 January 2018, C8 closed down completely and Minimax filled up the overnight slot, thereby running 24/7 onwards in Hungary too. Near the end of 2019, it was announced that Minimax - and also, all AMC-owned channels - would be discontinued on DIGI. However, on 31 December 2019, executives made a last minute decision to continue broadcasting the channels.
