Chris Dziadul, November 14, 2024
“Transformative year” for Romania’s Digi
2024 is proving to be a transformative year for Romanian-owned Digi Communications, according to its CEO Serghei Bulgac. The company reached 26.3 million clients as of the end of the third quarter, driven by remarkable growth in Spain. Revenues in Q3 reached €492.5 million (+13.6% year-on-year) and adjusted EBITDA €150.8 million (+16.6%). In its home market Romania, Digi remains the leading provider of pay-TV services, ending Q3 with 5.8 million RGUs, up 3.3% on a year earlier.
TVP forced to retain TV channels
Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has refused to sign off so-called public service media ‘Duty Cards’ for the period 2025-2029. As a result, the public broadcaster TVP will not be able to go ahead with plans to close some of its TV channels, including Alfa TVP, TVP Kobieta, TVP Historia and TVP Dokument. The situation may change once there is greater clarity on how much money – and when – TVP, regional TV stations and public radio will obtain from receiver licence fees.
Kyivstar set for IPO
Veon is considering an initial public offering (IPO) for its Ukrainian operation Kyivstar. The news was given by Veon’s CEO Kaan Terzioglu, quoted by Reuters. Significantly, if the listing were to go ahead it would be on Nasdaq and a first for a Ukrainian company in the US. Back in February Nasdaq and Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy signed an MoU to support Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its economy and capital markets.
Poland’s Vectra hit by heavy fine
The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protector (UOKiK) has fined the country’s leading cable operator Vectra over PLN68 million (€15.6 million). It notes that in September 2022 Vectra started to use, in its contract with consumers, some clauses authorising it to amend terms and conditions. This effectively allowed it to introduce increases and some new fees which to date had not been stipulated in contracts. Aside from the fine, Vectra will be required to refund customers already paid subscription fee increases. A new Electronic Communications Law entered into force in Poland on November 10. It increases consumer protection in such areas as unjustified fees and unsolicited services.
Serbian Chinese media cooperation intensifies
The Serbian public broadcaster RTS has reportedly signed a cooperation agreement with China Media Group (CMG) covering such areas as programme exchanges and joint productions. It also includes a Chinese Documentary Festival that will be shown by RTS. CMG has in addition signed a wide-ranging agreement with the Serbian newspaper Politika, while the Serbian news agency Tanjug has teamed up with China’s Xinhua News Agency.
Maincast secures Ukrainian licences
The Ukrainian regulator National Council has given esports company Maincast permission to launch two linear TV channels. Known as Maincast Sport and Maincast, with the latter focusing on entertainment, they will broadcast round-the-clock in Ukrainian and be distributed by OTT and IPTV technologies. Maincast has also been given the go-ahead to launch a new OTT service named MAINCAST.TV which will be available throughout the whole of Ukraine.
Voyo enters Serbian market
The streaming service Voyo is now available on Yettel in Serbia. It offers viewers over 6,000 hours of ad-free programming, with Serbian language subtitles, including new films, film classics, foreign and regional series, documentaries, sports, music and content for children. Voyo is also available in the six markets in CEE that Central European Media Enterprises (CME) has a presence in. Its launch in Serbia is a result of a strategic partnership between RTL Hrvatska and Yettel. The former is part of CME, ultimately owned by the Czech Republic’s PPF Group, and latter 50% plus one share owned by e&, with the remainder owned by PPF Group.
FilmBox+ widens reach in Poland
SPI International’s streaming service is now available on Play and Inea in Poland. According to SPI International, it complements the FilmBox channels already offered on the market, namely FilmBox Premium HD, FilmBox Extra HD, FilmBox Family, FilmBox Action and FilmBox Arthouse. SPI International is part of Canal+ Group.
Polsat offices raided
Polish anti-corruption officials from the CBA have searched the offices of the national commercial broadcaster Polsat. They were looking for documentation related to sports sub-licensing licensing agreements with publicly owned TVP.
コメント