Chris Dziadul, December 5, 2024
“World first” channel launches in CEE
The Canadian technology not-for-profit company eQualitie, working in partnership with the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Svoboda Satellite project, has launched a new satellite TV channel bringing cybersecurity education and digital awareness to communities across Eastern Europe. Known as eQtv, it is claimed to be “the world’s first TV channel dedicated to technology, knowledge and freedom.” eQtv is distributed by Eutelsat’s Hotbird at 13 degrees East and the 12th channel to join the Svoboda satellite package. It has launched with 300 hours of multilingual content and offers “expert interviews, practical tutorials, and news on global and regional cybersecurity issues, such as cyber hygiene, personal data protection, and safe digital practices, helping individuals take control of their digital security.” Programming is available in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, with plans to expand the content library and add additional languages to meet the needs of diverse audiences across the region.
Polish viewers value DTT
The changes taking place in Poland’s digital terrestrial TV (DTT) service are appreciated by seven in ten viewers. According to the latest research by Wavemaker (GroupM), Polsat and TVN are the channels they value most, while Trwam and Republika are ones they would be most willing to give up. At the same time, several percentage points of DTT viewers have exchanged their receivers since the terrestrial TV debut of Republika on MUX-8 so that they can watch the channel. Meanwhile, National Geographic, Discovery and HBO are the top three channels viewers would most like to see in their “dream multiplex”.
Voyo closes in on target
CME’s streaming service Voyo is ending this year with 950,000 paying subscribers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and should reach 1 million in early 2025. The news was given by Daniel Grunt, TV Nova’s CEO, at a press conference on the broadcaster’s upcoming spring schedule and quoted in the local media. Although Voyo is also available in Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania, the majority of its subscribers are found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
New OTT platform for Montenegro
The Montenegrin public broadcaster RTCG has launched a new OTT platform named MNE Play. Developed by the R&D company More Screens, it is available throughout the country and includes such features as live TV and radio channels, video and audio on demand, advanced catch-up TV functionality and AI-powered content search with advanced filtering options. Significantly, MNE Play is not only a national platform but also a resource for smaller local TV stations in the country that lack resources to develop their own OTT services.
Sweet.tv inks RTL Hungarian deal
RTL Saleshouse will become the exclusive sales agent of the CEE streaming platform Sweet.tv in Hungary from the beginning of 2025. According to a local report, Sweet.tv is available in over 130,000 Hungarian households and its app can be used in more than 2.3 million CTV devices.
MWE Networks hires Robert Kosobucki
Robert Kosobucki has joined Poland’s MWE Networks as its new director of marketing and development. He was most recently the research and product development director of Kino Polska, a position he held for 10 years. MWE Networks is a leading media company, with nearly 20 thematic TV channels in its portfolio. It also operates a regional DTT network.
Landmark for Baltic streamer
Duo Media Networks' streaming service Duo One has reached a quarter of a million users in the Baltics in only its first two months of operation. The platform offers over 1,000 hours of content, including exclusive and fresh series that cannot be found elsewhere in the region. Duo One is available in Estonia via Elisa Huubi and distributed by local partners in Latvia and Lithuania.
Czech Prima promotes Jan Cadek
Jan Cadek has been appointed the commercial director of the Czech Republic’s Prima Group, effective the beginning of 2025. Cadek is currently the head of online and radio Media Club and is his new role will be responsible for TV, radio and online at Media Club. He will replace Vladimir Porizek, who has been at Prima, one the of the country’s leading commercial broadcasters, since 2007.
Megogo partners with VIDAA
The international streaming service Megogo has entered into a streaming partnership with the technology and innovation company VIDAA. It will result in the Megogo app being integrated directly into smart TVs with the VIDAA operating system in several countries including Romania.
duckTV expands in Hungary
The Slovak company Mega Max Media has signed a renewed distribution agreement with the telco Digi and a new distribution agreement with Vodafone Hungary. It will allow more viewers to watch the toddler channel duckTV from January 1, 2025, when Digi and Vodafone Hungary merge their operations under the One brand. The extended deal includes access to both the flagship linear channel duckTV and VOD content package.
Piracy bust in Croatia
United Media, as a member of the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA), has helped in the dismantlement of one of the largest illegal streaming networks operating within and beyond the EU. The investigation targeted 102 suspects, with 11 arrests in Croatia, for illegally distributing content from streaming services, including movies and series. The network also pirated over 2,500 TV channels, including sports broadcasters, and provided access to more than 22 million users worldwide without the consent of copyright holders. In addition to intellectual property crimes (copyright infringement), there are indications of related offences, such as money laundering and cybercrime, which remain under investigation.
Polish pubcaster restructures
The Polish public broadcaster TVP has closed its Distribution Office and merged its activities into other organisational units. At the same time, it has created a new entity named the Media Centre for Abroad. This encompasses the channels TVP World and Bielsat TV, with its task being to present the Polish perspective on important events in the region and the world.
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