CEE TV industry news stories

Chris Dziadul, August 15, 2024

 

 

RTL teams up with 4iG

The Hungarian integrated service provider 4iG and its telecom subsidiaries will exclusively distribute RTL Hungary’s linear TV channels and streaming service RTL+ from the beginning of next year. 4iG’s content division will also support RTL Hungary in broadcasting Champions League matches. Under the terms of the new partnership, 4iG’s customers, including those of Vodafone Hungary and Digi, will be able to access the full range of RTL+ content on a single TV device as part of their subscriptions. The two companies have also agreed on the distribution of RTL Hungary’s 12-channel portfolio, including its four second-generation channels launched in December 2023. As a result, all 4iG customers will have access to channels such as RTL, RTL Kettő, RTL Három, RTL Gold, RTL Otthon, Film+, Sorozat+, Cool TV, Muzsika TV, Kölyökklub, Moziklub, and Sorozatklub, depending on their subscription package. The flagship channel RTL will also remain available on the free-to-air MindigTV service.

 

Streaming landmark in Czech Republic

The number of Czechs accessing streaming services now tops 3 million. According to atmedia, 47% of those aged 15-69 actively used at least one in the first half of 2024. This was 5pp more than in the same period last year. All told, the number increased quite significantly in the first six months of this year, up by 300,000 to 3.1 million, with the biggest winners being Netflix, Voyo, Disney+, Max and Prima+. Indeed, some increased their user base by 200,000. Netflix was watched by two-thirds of all users of streaming services, with the other four leading ones used by 17-36%. Czechs also tend to use more than one streaming service and typically spend an average of one hour and six minutes a day watching them. Women are the most active viewers, along with people aged 25-34, with the latter accounting for more than half of users.

 

Flying start for Max in Poland

Max was the second most watched streaming service among Polish internet users in July. Mediapanel (Gemius/PBI) data, published by Wirtualne Media, shows it had 3,816,072 real users and a reach of 12.85% in only its first full month of operation. This placed it in second place behind Netflix (9,898,524 and 33.33%) and ahead of third placed Disney+ (2,988,090 and 10.06%).  

 

SkyShowtime expands in Romania

Digi Romania has made the SkyShowtime premium HD linear channels SkyShowtime 1 and SkyShowtime 2, along with the SkyShowtime streaming service available to its subscribers. As of August 12 they are being offered in a SkyShowtime package that also includes 180 digital TV channels and costs RON38 (€7.63) a month. This means that those who already receive the digital TV channels for RON30 a month can also watch the SkyShowtime package for only an additional RON8 a month.

 

Telemach Slovenia to buy T-2

United Group’s Telemach Slovenia has signed a share purchase agreement with Garnol to acquire at least 98.06% of the telco T-2. Under the terms of the transaction, for an undisclosed fee, Telemach Slovenia will initially acquire a non-controlling stake of 24.9% of T-2’s equity. It will secure the remaining stake after obtaining approval from the relevant regulators.

 

Head of Serbian regulator “deceived public”

United Media has accused Olivera Zekic, the chair of the Serbian Regulatory Body REM, of deceiving the public by saying that a pending court ruling is preventing a decision on the allocation of a 5th national TV licence. According to United Media, Zekic said on August 9 that the body will not decide on the remaining, 5th national frequency before an Administrative Court rules on two suits filed by United Media’s Nova S because the court ruling could take the whole process back to the start. Serbian Journalists Association (UNS) lawyer Nenad Krajnovic has also said the court ruling could affect a REM decision.

 

RGU milestone for Digi

Romania-owned Digi Communications ended the second quarter with over 25 million RGUs (Revenue Generating Units) in its home market, Spain and Italy. Results published by the company show that as of the end of June its RGU total stood at 25,534,000, or 13.8% more than a year earlier. In Romania, it had 5,773,000 pay-TV subscribers, up 3.5% on the Q2 2023 total, and the number of RGUs rose by 8% to 17,561,000. Digi’s revenues in Q2 amounted to €472.9 million, up from €414.4 million in the same quarter last year. Its net profit increased from €16 million to €28.8 million. Digi will shortly launch commercial services in both Portugal and Belgium.

 

Dusan Svalek to leave CME

Dusan Svalek, the deputy CEO at Central European Media Enterprises (CME) responsible for Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Croatia, is leaving the company for personal reasons and taking a career break. Klara Brachtlova, CME's chief external affairs, will assume his responsibilities until a successor is recruited. She will also retain her current role. Svalek joined CME in April 2022 and was initially its COO.

 

United Group partners with Eutelsat

United Group has chosen Eutelsat to consolidate all its DTH services across Southeastern Europe. The transition to the next-generation DTH platform, a single operator and its two satellites at two orbital positions is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. It will include a unified STB and CAS, a one-size TVRO, and a Teleport to uplink the content. The move will extend the next-generation United Group’s DTH services to an audience of 40 million people via Telemach, Nova, Bulsatcom, Vivacom, SBB and Total TV in Greece, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

 

Revenue growth for Russian streamers

Russian streamers posted combined revenues of R51.8 billion (€520 million) in the first half of this year. According to TelecomDaily, this was 42% more than in the same period in 2023. There was no change among the seven leading companies, with Kinopoisk, ivi, Wink, Okko, Kion, Start and Premier together accounting for over 97% of the total. However, Kinopoisk increased its share from 32.8% in 2003 to 33.5%, while second placed ivi’s fell from 18.6% to 18.1% over the same period. Wink claimed 15.3% (up from 12.9% a year earlier) and Okko 12.4% (10.2%), with Start and Kion sharing fifth place (6.7% each) and Premier on 4.5% (4.4%).

 

DTT licence awards in Ukraine

The Ukrainian regulator National Council has awarded TV channel licences to Megogo Sport and Inter Ukraine. Their respective operators Megogo and Inter were the only companies to take part in a competition for slots on the multiplex MX-7, which the two channels will now continue to use. Under the terms of their licences, the channels will be required to broadcast 24 hours daily and allocate at least 60% of their weekly output to Ukrainian content.

 

 

 

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© Chris Dziadul, 2024