Inside CEE Television
- chrisdz3
- Oct 9
- 5 min read
Chris Dziadul, October 9 2025
World-first Megogo partnership with Google
Kiev-based Megogo has entered into a strategic partnership with Google to launch a new MEGOPACK bundle for Ukrainian users. It gives access to YouTube Premium, video content, sports and music streaming without ads. According to Megogo, this is the first such collaboration not only in Ukraine, but also in the world. It adds that the package combines the ‘Maximum’ subscription from Megogo (TV, movies, series, education, audio and children’s content) and an individual subscription to YouTube Premium (including YouTube Music). MEGOPACK Y is priced at UAH449 (€9.28) for the first month, followed by UAH499 for subsequent months. Although the launch has taken place in Ukraine, the two parties plan to launch the product in other CEE markets Megogo is present in.
TV licence awards in Poland
Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has awarded the company Kanał Zero TV a 10-year satellite licence to operate a channel of the same name. It has also granted licences to several other companies, to operate the TV channels TV-ŻYR, Metro, Telewizja Zachód and Telewizja Słowianin. Its other actions include extending a satellite broadcast licence allowing MWE Networks to operate a children’s channel named Top Kids. In a separate development, Poland’s new President Karol Nawrocki has said he does not confirm the expiry of the terms of office of the members of the KRRiT. The regulator’s report was recently rejected by Poland’s Sejm (Parliament) and Senate.
bTV upgrades streaming platform
Bulgaria’s bTV Media Group has revamped its streaming platform bTV Plus. The complete redesign and expanded functionalities of the platform include a new web version of btvplus.bg with an updated interface, consistent with current UX/UI trends and user needs;a mobile application with an intuitive design, optimised for various devices with iOS and Android; and a TV application for Android operating systems, adapted for large screens and with a focus on easy navigation and quality user experience. bTV Media Group is owned by Central European Media Enterprises (CME) and besides bTV Plus its portfolio also includes a national TV station and several thematic channels and the streaming service Voyo. Inside CEE Television notes that while the latter is a premium subscription service, bTV Plus is a free ad-supported platform.
New licence awards in Romania
The Romanian regulator ANCOM has issued new licences to Vodafone, Digi and Telekom Romania Mobile Communications. In a statement, it says that “the modification of the licences follows the completion of the transaction through which Vodafone Romania S.A. acquires sole control over Telekom Romania Mobile Communications S.A., and Digi Romania S.A. acquires sole control over certain assets of Telekom Romania Mobile Communications S.A. (part of its towers, infrastructure and equipment), as well as the entire activity of providing prepaid mobile telephony services.” The licences for the use of frequencies are valid until April 5, 2029, and December 31, 2031, respectively.
TVP grows streaming figures
The Polish public broadcaster TVP had over 3 million users of its streaming service TVP VOD in September. It also recorded the highest number of video users in three years, with the total almost 25% higher than in the same month in 2024. TVP notes that last month the number of opens of its streaming service was 16% up on a year earlier, with the number of visits and opens also up, by 20% and 17% respectively. Significantly, its 8.19% usage share of VOD and OTT services put it in third place and ahead of – amongst others – HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Canal+ Online, Player and Polsat Box Go. Separately, TVP has strongly rejected media reports that it plans to close or suspend the operation of its channel TVP HD. In a statement, it added that “it is one of the most cost-effective channels in the public broadcaster's portfolio, considering the cost-to-revenue ratio. Changing the name or rebranding of this channel would be unjustified, creating unnecessary confusion among viewers and, consequently, leading to audience loss.”
Russia to invest more in satellites
Maksut Shadayev, Russia’s minister of digital development, communications and mass media, has proposed allocating additional funding for new geostationary communications and TV broadcast satellites. Speaking at a meeting of the State Duma IT Committee and quoted by the local media, he added that this funding would amount to over R170 billion (€1.79 billion) over the next four years. He also said that the funding would be obtained from a 3% fee on online advertising, raising telecom operators’ fees from 1.2% to 2% and the commercialisation of the Gosuslugi infrastructure.
Voyo debuts in Bosnia
The subscription on-demand platform Voyo is now available in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Operated by Central European Media Enterprises (CME) and one of the leading streaming services in CEE, it is also present in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Romania and Moldova.
New Canal+ role for Karol Szumlicz
Karol Szumlicz has assumed the newly created role of head of digital sport at Canal+ Polska. Szumlicz has until now served as sport online content manager, responsible for the development of sports strategy and content in Canal+ Sport’s social media. In his new position, he will continue to be responsible for the development of Canal +’s sports social media and additionally for increasing revenue from social media content, more effective acquisition of subscriptions in the digital area, building synergies with influencers and conducting non-standard promotional campaigns in social media. Szumlicz has been with Canal+ Polska for almost five years.
Travelxp expands in Lithuania
The Lithuanian operator Cgates has added the channel Travelxp HD to its ‘Laisvalaikio’ (“Leisure’) thematic package. Travelxp is present in over 119 countries and its programming is available in more than 25 languages. Meanwhile, Cgates traces its roots back to Viginta, a company established in 1991 that offered multichannel microwave TV services in Vilnius and surrounding area. Today it is backed by a consortium headed by Livonia Partners and provides telecom services to over 168,000 households across the country. Inside CEE Television notes that in August the Lithuanian Competition Council approved Cgates’s acquisition of SPLIUS, a company that provides similar services.
Vivacom to compensate subscribers
Bulgaria’s Vivacom has said it will compensate its subscribers living in flood-affected areas of the country. The compensations will be applied for three months from November and cover the telco’s TV, broadband and telephony services. Bulgaria has been hit by devastating floods in the last few days.
Emitel promotes Urszula Marzec
Urszula Marzec has been appointed BU manager services for broadcasters at the Polish national transmission company Emitel. Prior to joining Emitel as broadcast & multimedia product manager in October 2024 she held positions at – amongst others – Telewizja Polska (TVP), SES Satellites, Modern Time Group MTG UK and Canal+ Cyfrowy.
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