Swedish government backs down on DTT break-up

The Swedish government has proposed that the programme companies themselves decide on how to organise their pay-TV packages on the DTT system. It follows the June submission by the council of legislation that had been expected to lead to the end of Boxer’s hold on pay-TV subscriptions on the pay-TV platform. The European Commission had threatened to fine the Swedish government over the establishment of Boxer as the sole provider of pay-TV services on the DTT system.

“The digital terrestrial network must contribute to the broadest possible freedom of speech and information,” said Boxer CEO Per Norman. “It is thus logical for transmission licences and the task of regulation to go to the programme companies. It is the programme companies who have the greatest interest in viewers gaining access to the entire range in the easiest possible way, whilst at the same time creating conditions for the development of new services on the terrestrial network.”

Boxer added a further 15,000 subscribers in the third quarter bringing its total subscriber base to 693,000.