CEE TV industry news stories

Chris Dziadul, May 9, 2024

 

 

Max set for Polish launch

The streaming platform Max will officially make its debut in Poland on June 11. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, work is currently underway on 15 local productions that will be shown on the platform. It adds that the second season of the series Ród Smoka (House of the Dragon) will be premiered on Max on June 17 and the second season of the series Odwilz (The Thaw) will be premiered in August. Users of Max will have full access to coverage of the Paris Olympic Games and subscribers to all three Max basic packages will be able to add on the Kanaly TV i Sport package. With this they will be able to watch live sports on 29 TV channels.

 

Early success for Czech Warner TV

Warner TV reached almost 900,000 Czech TV viewers in April following its launch as FTA terrestrial channel at the beginning of the month. According to Atmedia, on its first day it accounted for almost 1% of viewers aged 18-69, while its average share during April was 0.53%. Thanks to Warner TV, which was added to the list of thematic channels represented by Atmedia, the combined audience share of channels represented by Atmedia last month reached almost 7%. This was a goal Atmedia had previously set for the end of this year.

 

Digi reveals TV strategy

Romanian-owned Digi Communications plans to launch TV services in Spain and Belgium. In a conference call accompanying its annual report, it said that it is “certainly keen and interested in launching TV services in Spain”, and that “TV is an important product also in the Spanish market and we must have it.” It added that it intends “to launch all services, broadband, TV and fixed telephony”, in Belgium.

 

Major changes ahead for Poland’s TVP

The Polish public broadcaster TVP is set to lose a number of its thematic channels. According to a ‘Duty Card’ for the years 2025-29, submitted by TVP’s liquidator Daniel Gorgosz to the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) and published by the regulator, it appears that up to seven (including Alfa and TVP Kobieta) could be scrapped and three (TVP Document, TVP Historia and TVP Nauka) merged into a single one called TVP Wiedza.  Meanwhile, TVP 4K would be transformed into a sports and entertainment channel whose offer would also include feature films.

 

Streaming takes off in Hungary

At the end of last year 41% of the Hungarian population aged over 15 watched regularly watched video content from a streaming service provider. However, according to the regulator NMHH, the actual figure was much higher since many people take advantage of the free trial periods offered by almost service providers. The latter group is always the largest for new providers, with RTL+, introduced in 2023, watched by twice as many people without paying as those who subscribed. Among teenagers and those in their 20s, 60% watched streaming services and 30% only TV, while middle aged and older people still preferred traditional TV services. Significantly, streaming services are still relatively cheap in Hungary, with leading providers charging HUF2,000-3,000 (€5.12-7.71) a month and smaller ones even less. Hungarian households paid an average of HUF4,600 a month for a pay-TV service and many Hungarians would rather subscribe to two streaming services for that price.

 

Czech OK TV set to launch

The new Czech national terrestrial channel OK TV will officially make its debut on May 16. Offering viewers mostly entertainment and music-based programming, it will be distributed on Digital Broadcast’s Multiplex 24, which covers 97.7% of the Czech Republic, and available free of charge.

 

Viaplay to host CEE Showcase at Content Warsaw

Viaplay Content Distribution, Viaplay Group’s division for content sales, Viaplay Select and international SVOD channels, is set to host its 2024 CEE Showcase at Content Warsaw, presenting a diverse range of scripted and non-scripted shows rooted in true stories of the region. For more information about Content Warsaw, please go to https://contentwarsaw.net

 

SPI International promotes Patrycja Galazka

Patrycja Galazka has been nominated by SPI International Management to the position of chief marketing & digital officer at SPI International Group. Currently director of marketing and communications for Grupa Kino Polska, she will in her new role manage all marketing and digital activities in more than 65 countries where SPI International distributes its channels and services. Galazka has been at Kino Polska since May 2020, prior to which she held executive positions at BBC Studios. She started her career at LOT Polish Airlines and subsequently worked at Samsung.

 

Technology focus and more speakers for NEM Dubrovnik

Cutting edge technologies will be one of the key topics at NEM Dubrovnik 2024, which will be held from June 10-13. A third line-up of speakers has also been revealed for the event. They include Maria Rua Aguete (Omdia), Victoria Davies (Davies, Stoychev & Partners), Boris Yurin (Ateme) and Stefan Niesen (Amagi Corporation). For further details, please go to https://neweumarket.com/dubrovnik/

 

Changes in Hrvatski Telekom management board

The Supervisory Board at the Croatian incumbent Hrvatski Telekom (HT) has approved what it says are two important changes to the company’s Management Board, effective July 1. They see Kresimir Madunovic appointed a new member and also chief operating officer residential (COOR). Meanwhile, the role of the present member of the Management Board and chief human resources officer (CHRO) will become broader. He will become a member of the Management Board and chief operations officer for human resources and customer operations (COO).

 

First Hungarian satellite on the horizon

The first Hungarian manufactured satellite could be placed in orbit as soon as 2027/28, according to Márton Nagy, the country’s minister of national economy. This follows the start of the construction of a REMRED Zrt factory in the town of Martonvásár. 4iG completed the acquisition of a 45% stake in REMRED Zrt earlier this month by raising €25 million. Earlier this year 4iG established a subsidiary named 4iG Space and Technology.

 

 

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© Chris Dziadul, 2024