Chris Dziadul, January 26, 2024
More sports channels from TV Nova
CME’s TV Nova will launch two more premium sports channels on February 29. Known as Nova Sport 5 and Nova Sport 6, they will offer viewers top motorsport, with the former showing exclusive live broadcasts of F1 and latter MotoGP. This will be supplemented on both channels by WorldSBK (Superbike World Championship) races and selected football matches from such leading European football leagues as Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A.
Top Polish broadcasters secure licence extensions
Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has granted 10-year licence extensions to channels operated by Telewizja Puls, Telewizja Polsat and Canal+ Polska. TV Puls is distributed terrestrially via MUX-2, while Polsat News 2 is a satellite-delivered service and Planete+ offered by cable networks and digital platforms.
United Media channel confusion in Serbia
Subcontractors have been accused of deceiving Serbians by saying the United Media channels N1, Nova and Sportklub will be made available on A1 Serbia’s fibre-optic network. According to United Media, notices say that A1 Serbia is constructing the network and will offer the channels. United Media adds that in fact to date no carriage agreement has been reached with A1 Serbia. For its part, A1 Serbia says its logo is being misused in the notices and it will “take all necessary measures accordingly”.
Streaming and IPTV insights for Croatia
Almost half (45%) of fixed internet users in Croatia do so to access streaming services such as Netflix and HBO. Furthermore, according to research just released by the regulator HAKOM, 44% watch IPTV services via fixed internet. Significantly, the latter figure, for last year, is down from 52% in 2022 and 51% in 2021.
New thematic service for Ukraine
The Ukrainian regulator National Council has awarded a licence to a new channel operated by the commercial broadcaster ICTV. It will be known as ICTV serials and distributed OTT. ICTV already operates a site named ICTV serials where viewers can watch its proprietary content online.
Kartina TV removes Russian army channel
Kartina TV, a German IPTV platform specialised in the distribution of Russian channels, has removed Zvezda from its offer. According to the campaigning Denis Diderot Committee, Zvedza is produced by a company owned by the Russian Armed Forces and sanctioned by the EU. However, it adds that other IPTV platforms continue to distribute the channel, the site of which is still accessible in France without the use of a VPN.
Prague set for Ultra HD
The Czech national transmission company CRA is planning to offer Ultra HD services in Prague. They would be distributed on the regional DVB-T2 network 4, which it recently acquired along with Prague Digital TV.
MTS exits Armenia
Russian operator MTS has announced the closure of the sale of its Armenian subsidiary to Fedilco Group Limited (Republic of Cyprus). The transaction also included MobiDram CISC, a payment system providing financial services in the Armenian market. No financial details have been disclosed. Besides being the leading provider of mobile services in Russia, MTS has a presence in its TV sector, with 12.2 million cable, satellite, IPTV and OTT subscribers as of the end of Q3 2023.
New milestone for Vivacom
United Group’s Bulgarian subsidiary Vivacom has secured a spot in the Top 10 rankings of the Word Teleport Association (WTA) for the fourth consecutive year. The biggest clients of Vivacom’s satellite services include Disney, Eutelsat, Viacom and National Geographic Channel. Meanwhile, through its ground stations, Vivacom broadcasts over 600 TV channels, reaching millions of households across Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.
Czech novelty from Vodafone
Vodafone has introduced a new generation of Android set-top box in the Czech Republic. Known as Vodafone TV 3, it gives customers access to a wide range of apps including Voyo, HBO Max and YouTube. It also has an integrated Chromecast function. Separately, as of this month Vodafone TV is available on LG televisions in the Czech Republic manufactured from 2020 onwards and with the webOS 5.x operating system or higher.
Court upholds TVN fine
The Court of Appeal in Warsaw has dismissed an appeal by the Polish national commercial broadcaster TVN against a fine imposed by the country’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT). The fine, amounting to PLN100,000 (€22,940), dates back to 2013 and relates to a violation of the “provisions established to protect minor viewers”.
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© Chris Dziadul, 2024
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