Inside CEE Television
Chris Dziadul, September 17 2026
Apple TV arrives in Romania and Croatia
Apple TV has finally made its debut in Romania and Croatia, the last two countries in the European Union (EU) without localised (subtitled) versions of the service. In Romania, it can be watched for RON39.99 (€7.60) a month or RON349 a year while in Croatia it costs €9.99 a month or €79 a year. There is also a seven-day free trial, rising to three months for anyone purchasing a new Apple device, as well as a free one-month offer for viewers who subscribes to Apple One. Local reports note that the launches have come nearly seven years after Apple TV, then known as Apple TV+, simultaneously made its debut in around 100 countries, including the US, UK and (in CEE) Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and the Baltics, in November 2019. The delay is likely to have been due to such factors as localised content certification disputes. Inside CEE Television notes that Apple is now also offering its services in non-EU CEE countries in a single package that includes Apple TV for free in some, though not all, of them.
Bosnian broadcaster sues the state
The editorial board at the Bosnian public broadcaster’s main TV channel BHT1 is initiating legal action against the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), as well as all responsible parties within the country’s Parliamentary Assembly and Council of Ministers, for failure to comply with the Law on the Public RTV System of B&H. This, it says in a statement, has brought the public broadcaster BHRT to the brink of collapse. It adds that “although we have been issuing warnings and insisting on legal compliance for years, representatives of the relevant institutions have failed to offer concrete solutions; consequently, BHRT staff are no longer able to broadcast programming.” Furthermore, BHRT’s accounts remain frozen, jeopardising the broadcast of sports and other events.
Top spot for Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery was the most popular broadcaster in Poland in August, accounting for 17.74% of total viewership on four devices – TVs, desktop and laptop computers, smartphones and tablets. According to Nielsen’s All Screens Video Landscape, it regained top spot for the first time since June, having fallen to third in July. Telewizja Polsat retained second place, while TVP dropped to third in August. This reshuffle followed the conclusion of the summer calendar of high-viewership sporting events; July had seen a surge in linear TV consumption driven by broadcasts of the Football World Cup. All Screens Video Landscape also shows that streaming engagement in August was on a consistent upward trend or stability across all key measurement metrics.
Major satellite deal for Levira
Estonia’s Levira has teamed up with Agility Beyond Space to provide TV channels and content owners with a comprehensive distribution service via the ABS-2A satellite at 75 degrees East. The collaboration combines Levira’s broadcasting infrastructure and uplink capabilities with ABS-2A’s extensive coverage area and existing base of TV channels and audiences. The ABS-2A Northern Ku-band beam spans 11 time zones and covers 25 million square kilometers—approximately one-sixth of the world's landmass. A single satellite enables access to markets in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and beyond. Levira receives, processes, and manages the content, transmitting it via uplink to the ABS-2A satellite. This allows TV channels and content owners to access a complete distribution service through a single partner, eliminating the need to combine multiple satellites, uplink sites and regional distribution solutions.
Eurosport channels widen reach in Poland
Poland’s largest cable operator Vectra has added Eurosport 3 HD and Eurosport 4 HD to selected TV packages, including its digital, internet-based and streaming offerings. The two channels are also now available to subscribers of Multimedia Polska, Limes and SGT, all of which are owned by Vectra, as well as Elsat and SGT. Additionally, subscribers can watch the channel on the TV Smart GO app. Eurosport 3 HD and Eurosport 4 HD are part of the TVN Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio. Inside CEE Television notes that Vectra recently completed the sale of Elsat’s infrastructure, though it continues to provide it with TV, internet and telephony services on a wholesale basis.
Slovak pubcaster moves to DVB-T2
The Slovak public broadcaster STVR will switch its terrestrial TV service to the DVB-T2 standard on September 22. The change will affect Multiplex 3, which carries the channels Jednotka, Dvojka, 24 and Šport. Multiplex 3 is operated by the national transmission company Towercom.
NTV-Plus restores Siberian service
The Russian DTH platform NTV-Plus has resumed broadcasting at the 56 degrees East orbital position via the Express-AT2 satellite. Subscribers have access to 138 TV and radio channels as part of the "Siberia Plus" basic package, along with an additional eight channels in supplementary packages. The resumption of broadcasting at 56 degrees East completes the restoration of NTV-Plus's permanent satellite infrastructure in Siberia.
Polish debut for Orange TV on smart TV app
Orange Polska has released its Orange TV app for Samsung TV users running the Tizen OS version 6.5 or later. The app is free for customers who have the Orange Fibre service with a Start TV or Extra TV package, or 5G mobile internet with TV. Samsung is one of the most popular TV brands in Poland, accounting for nearly 30% of the market for new devices.
4iG targets Nasdaq listing
Hungary’s 4iG Group has announced its intention to be listed on the US public equity market Nasdaq in the fourth quarter of 2027. It is working with US banks, law firms and advisers to assess the possible structures, requirements and timetable for the listing, and any decision on the final structure and its implementation may be taken based on the outcome of the preparatory process. Upon completion, the listing could make 4iG the first Hungarian company with shares traded on the world's largest exchange.
TVN encourages creator-led content as key executive returns
Poland’s TVN Warner Bros. Discovery is expanding its collaboration with online creators and supporting the production of creator-led entertainment on YouTube. According to the group, it is opening its studios and production facilities to creators with ideas for original entertainment formats. Separately, local reports indicate that Maciej Gozdowski has returned to TVN Warner Bros. Discovery. Formerly the VP of streaming, he has now become an advisor to the group’s management team. Gozdowski decided to leave TVN Warner Bros. Discovery last December after 10 years, having initially been the head of the group’s player.pl operation. He previously held key positions at Canal+ Polska and Cyfrowy Polsat/Telewizja Polsat.
New satellite deal for Eutelsat and A1
Eutelsat and A1 Group have renewed a multi-year, multi-transponder agreement for capacity on Eutelsat’s 16 degrees East orbital position. The renewed capacity supports A1 Group’s delivery of the technical DTH TV platform for A1 Croatia, as well as technical services, including signal transport, uplink and encryption, for multiple TV broadcasters across Europe.
CME stations secure Formula 1 content
RTL Croatia and Pro Plus Slovenia have deployed Nagravision’s intelligence-led streaming security solution Nagra Venturi for the distribution of Formula 1 content to their subscribers across the Adriatic region for the 2026 season. The project was delivered in close collaboration with long-standing Nagra Venturi partner Ateme.
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