CEE TV industry news stories

Chris Dziadul, August 29, 2024

 

Netflix hikes fees in Poland

Netflix has raised its fees for the first time in three years in Poland. Its cheapest package now costs PLN33 (€7.69) a month, up from PLN29, while its Standard package is PLN6 more expensive at PLN49 and Premium package PLN7 dearer at PLN67. Disney+, one of its strongest competitors in Poland, is expected to raise its fees in October.

 

TVP secures Champions League rights

The Champions League is returning to the Polish public broadcaster TVP after a break of one year. This follows the signing of a sublicensing agreement with Canal+ Polska and TVP will offer free coverage of the competition for three seasons, starting 2024/5. TVP will show a total of 17 Champions League games per season at 21.00 on Wednesday evenings. No financial details of the agreement have been disclosed.

 

Slovenia approves licence fee increase

The Slovenian government has approved a decree on raising receiver licence fees by 10%. As a result, the fee per household will rise from €12.75 to €14.02 at the beginning of next year. Up until, the Ministry of Finance was opposed to raising the fees, which have been unchanged since 2012.

 

United Media makes international appeal

United Media has issued a letter informing the international community of the latest attacks by Serbian state officials against independent media in the country. In it, it says that the pressure has increased in recent weeks after mass protests across the country against a lithium mining project. It adds that “the orchestrated campaign reached its peak with the statements of the Serbian president and Parliament speaker, who claimed that United Group minority owner Dragan Solak and United Media media outlets are behind a conspiracy to assassinate President Vucic.” Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic has since accused United Media of reporting negatively on the plans to mine lithium in western Serbia in 90% of cases, adding that there were more of those negative reports in the past two months than in the past 10 years since United Media’s N1 went on the air.

 

Comms spending rises in Hungary

Hungarians paid on average HUF4,100 (€10.39) a month for TV services in 2023. According to the regulator NMHH, they spent a total of HUF20,900 a month for communication services, with over half (HUF12,400) being for mobile services. NMHH notes that although the HUF20,900 was 13% more than in 2022, this was lower than the rate of inflation. Streaming services were not included in the figures as people typically pay fees directly to providers.

 

New info channel for Poland

A new information-based TV channel named wPolsce24 will launch in Poland on Monday, September 2. Operated by a group named Fratria, it will be distributed terrestrially on the country’s eighth multiplex MUX-8. Fratria currently operates a cable and satellite delivered channel named wPolsce.pl, which the new channel will replace. Fratria had to apply to the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) for a new licence for wPolsce24. It was awarded on July 2 and is valid for 10 years.

 

New Viasat channel to expand reach

The new channel Viasat True Crime is likely to be soon launched in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Local reports indicate that satellite test transmissions of the channel are already under way. Viasat World has already partnered with Canal+ to launch the channel in Poland at the end of May.

 

Orange Slovakia revamps TV offer

Orange has made HBO and Max available for €6 a month to its customers in Slovakia as part of a major overhaul of its TV services. As of August 27, its offer of 27 additional packages has been reduced to one consisting of eight packages. As part of the simplified TV offer, customers can now choose from three new thematic packages, each of which cost €3 per month, and from five Extra TV packages costing €3 per month.

 

Russia extends analogue licences

Russia’s State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SRCF) has extended the licences currently being used for analogue TV broadcasting until 2026. Up until now they were valid until the end of this year. Although the 20 main TV channels in Russia completed the switch to digital broadcasting in October 2019, some regional and municipal TV stations continue to broadcast in analogue.

 

 

For more information about Chris Dziadul, please go to:

http://www.chrisdziadul.com

 

To register your interest in receiving regular news updates on the TV industry in Central and Eastern Europe, please email:

chrisdziadul@outlook.com

 

© Chris Dziadul, 2024