CEE TV industry news stories

Chris Dziadul, March 28, 2024

 

Netflix leads in Bulgaria

Netflix accounted for 35% of the streaming market in Bulgaria, with HBO Max (18%) and Prime Video (17%) in second and third place respectively, as of the end of last year. The unofficial figures, according to JustWatch and Capital, also show Apple TV+, Disney+ and SkyShowtime to be performing well. At the same time, Voyo, operated by CME’s bTV, was one of the leading local streaming services.

 

Canal+ adds TVP channels

Canal+ DTH subscribers in Poland can now watch a number of TVP channels including TVP Kobieta, TVP Nauka, TVP Historia and the regional service TVP3. However, the channels are streamed, with reception only possible through either the 4K UltraBox+ or 4K DualBox+ connected to the internet.

 

Disney extends Telekom Srbija deal

The Walt Disney Company Central and Eastern Europe has extended its partnership with Telekom Srbija. As a result, the Serbian incumbent will continue to distribute a range of Disney channels to subscribers via cable, DTH, IPTV and OTT. They included National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Channel and Disney Junior. It will also continue to provide them with National Geographic On Demand and MyBaby TV on an on demand basis. The agreement between the two parties covers Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

 

New Warner Bros. Discovery role for Dorota Eberhardt

Dorota Eberhardt has been appointed to the newly created role of VP, programming, streaming and secondary channels at TVN Warner Bros. Discovery in Poland. In her new role she will be responsible for programming and content strategy across streaming and portfolio of secondary channels. Eberhardt has been with TVN Warner Bros. Discovery since July 2018, prior to which she was at most recently Discovery Networks International and TVN.

 

PIKE president Straszewski resigns

Jerzy Straszewski, the president of the Polish Chamber of Electronic Communications (PIKE), has resigned after holding the position for 20 years. He will now take up the position of honorary president and be replaced by Bogdan Laga. PIKE is the leading trade body representing the electronic communications industry in Poland.  Its members include Vectra, Toya, Inea, HBO Polska, TVN Warner Bros Discovery and Canal+ Polska.

 

Sharp rise in OTT revenues

OTT TV episode and movie revenues for 22 CEE countries are forecast to reach $6.96 billion in 2029. This, according to the latest report from Digital TV Research, will be up from $3.82 billion in 2023. Of the additional revenues between 2023 and 2029, Russia will account for $1 billion and Poland $0.7 billion. Meanwhile, SVOD revenues will reach $4.3 billion by 2029, up from $2.4 billion in 2023. Russia and Poland will be the only countries in CEE to generate revenues of over $1 billion by 2029. At the same time, AVOD revenues will rise by $1 billion to reach $1.9 billion.

 

Veon increases focus on Ukraine

The connectivity and online services digital operators Veon has sold its 50.1% indirect stake in Beeline Kyrgyzstan to CG Cell Technologies for an undisclosed fee. The transaction will allow it to concentrate its activities on other markets, the largest of which is Ukraine. Its assets there include Kyivstar, which is the country’s leading mobile operator and also has a presence in the TV industry.  

 

Czech sports channel withdrawn from Slovakia

The Czech public broadcaster Ceska Televize (CT) has reportedly asked operators in Slovakia to withdraw its channel CT Sport from their line-ups. The Slovak Association for Cable Telecommunications (SAKT) has told its members, numbering over 100 and with a combined total of more than one million subscribers, to comply with CT’s request.   

 

Regulator makes Polsat decisions

Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has approved name changes to three channels operated by Telewizja Polsat. As a result, Polsat Sport, Polsat Sport Extra and Polsat Sport News will be known as Polsat Sport 1, Polsat Sport 2 and Polsat Sport 3 respectively. In separate developments, the regulator has renewed the satellite licence of the Telewizja Polsat music channel Disco Polo Music for a further 10 years.  KRRiT has also approved a name change for another channel operating on the Polish market, with Red Carpet TV – CTV9 becoming ViDocTV.

 

 

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© Chris Dziadul, 2024