Inside CEE Television
Chris Dziadul, November 5 2026
YouTube Premium joins CEE streaming elite
YouTube Premium is now among the top five most frequently watched SVOD platforms across Central and Eastern Europe. According to ViewTube CEE, a WPP Media study covering Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Croatia, between 8-18 % of internet users in these countries pay for or share a subscription to the paid version of YouTube. In Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary, YouTube Premium achieves similar results to Disney+, while in Croatia and Serbia, countries with fewer paid streaming customers, YouTube Premium ranks among the top three paid video platforms and surpasses the popularity of Disney’s platform. However, YouTube competes for viewers’ money differently from traditional SVOD platforms. The strength of Netflix, HBO Max and Disney+ is driven primarily by films, series and original productions. On YouTube, the common denominator across the region is music and music videos, the leading content category on YouTube in all seven markets surveyed. Among the youngest YouTube viewers surveyed in the region (aged 16–24), content from online creators, vlogs and gaming stand out more strongly. Furthermore, young users aged up to 34 are overrepresented among YouTube Premium subscribers. Parents of children aged 0–6 stand out particularly strongly in each market surveyed, they subscribe to YouTube Premium at around twice the average rate. YouTube Premium also stands out from SVOD platforms for its relatively high proportion of direct customers compared to traditional streamers that heavily rely on telecom operator bundles.
Czech PM dismisses strike at Czech TV and Radio
The Czech PM Andrej Babiš has refused to compromise on the governing coalition’s plan to abolish receiver licence fees. Speaking to the local media, he dismissed the main arguments of a one-day strike at the Czech Television (ČT) and Radio ČRo on November 3 that upcoming legislation threatens media independence or democracy, calling the arguments "hypocrisy”. Babiš also insisted that nobody wants to take control of public service media or nationalise them and that restructuring is aimed at making them more financially efficient. Although Babiš insists that receiver licence fees will be abolished, the exact replacement model is still up for discussion. One possible option is for viewers paying voluntary contributions, with the state making up any shortfall. A second reading on the bill to abolish receiver licence fees will take place in the Czech Parliament on January 15.
Polsat boosts streaming offer
Poland’s Cyfrowy Polsat has introduced a new package featuring the streaming services Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Disney+ and SkyShowtime. Costing PLN55 (€12.5) a month, it can be received by subscribers to its Plus and Polsat Box services. Cyfrowy Polsat already allows customers to build their own custom streaming packages by choosing from services such as Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, SkyShowtime, and Polsat Box Go (available in Premium and Sport versions for Plus customers). Any two services can be bundled for PLN40 a month, while a selection of four services is available for PLN80 a month.
New streamer for Czech market
A new Czech streaming platform named MovixBox will officially make its debut on November 11. According to local reports, it will introduce micro dramas into the Czech market and feature short-form scripted series and documentaries in a vertical 9:16 format for mobile viewing, with episodes lasting 1-2 minutes. MovixBox is owned by the producers Michal Deus and Miro Mráz and has partnered with Vodafone and Zaplo.cz.
Alpac to strengthen Serbian TV channels
Alpac Capital-owned Adria News Network Serbia has announced that it will spend over €11.3 million on Nova S in 2027 to make it the country’s leading entertainment channel. It will also continue to strengthen N1 to become the leading news channel in Serbia. Both Nova S and N1 will in addition be made available in Serbia through Yettel and Telekom Srbija. In a separate development, the Serbian regulator REM has banned Informer TV from broadcasting its Prve Info news programme for seven days. It has also imposed short-term bans on programmes shown on Prva TV. Inside CEE Television notes that Informer TV was one of the closest supporters of Serbia’s long-term president Aleksandar Vučić, who lost a snap election last month.
Major cuts on horizon for Hungarian pubcasting
Hungarian public service media will see their funding cut by HUF61.3 billion (€168.6 million) in 2027. According to local reports, this will amount to a reduction of 43.4% and come at a time when the country’s public service media is undergoing a major transformation. Significantly, the budget cuts remain a proposal and a final decision will be made when the Hungarian Parliament votes to pass the full 2027 budget bill.
Duo Media Networks completes channel rebrand
Estonia’s Duo Media Networks has rebranded its thematic channels Duo 3 and Duo 5 as Duo Drama and Duo Star respectively. This follows the rebrand of two other channels – Duo 4 and Duo 5 – as Duo Drama and Duo Star respectively back in August. Tallinn-based Duo Media Networks is a subsidiary of Postimees Group, one of the largest and oldest media conglomerates in Estonia and has a presence in all three Baltic countries.
Megogo secures FA Cup rights
The SVOD and OTT streaming platform Megogo has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights for the FA Cup in Ukraine for the 2026/7 season, starting with the first round on November 6. While the full tournament will be available to paid sports package subscribers, select matches will be offered to viewers free of charge on the linear Megogo Sport channel on DVB-T2 terrestrial and cable networks.
Czech operators improve offers
Vodafone has added Disney+ to its streaming offer, which already includes HBO Max and prima+, in the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, T-Mobile Czech Republic has upgraded its Magenta TV service to include a new design, more intuitive controls and improved content access.
Titan OS hires Karina Rompa
Karina Rompa has been appointed the business development lead at Titan OS. Most recently at Rakuten TV, she will focus on contributing to Titan OS growth across Central and Eastern Europe, working with partners in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Baltics. Titan OS is a technology company headquartered in Barcelona, with branches in Amsterdam and Taipei. It specialises in developing software and solutions to unleash the full potential of connected TV.
New kids channel in Russia
A new children’s linear channel named Tsvetnyashki TV has made its debut in Russia. Based entirely on the popular educational animated musical series of the same name, it is operated by Sky Media, a major Russian media distributor that produces, packages and manages niche thematic TV channels.
Kolár moves to O2 Slovakia
Jaroslav Kolár has assumed the position of content manager at O2 Slovakia. He was most recently the corporate communication & programming manager at UPC Broadband Slovakia, a role he held from April 2005 until last month. Inside CEE Television notes that O2 Slovakia, which is owned by e& PPF Telecom Group, completed the acquisition of UPC Broadband Slovakia earlier this year for €95 million.
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