Poland’s TVP has taken the unusual step of re-encrypting four channels – TVP1, TVP2, TV Sport and TVP HD – it unscrambled for the launch of its much-publicised DTH platform on September 15.
The move, which has been greeted with a mixture of surprise and disbelief throughout the Polish TV industry, flies against the whole strategy of the new platform, which was to start with a five-channel FTA offer (TVP Info apparently remains unencrypted), add four more FTA channels (Polsat, Polsat 2, TVN and TVN 7) in December and then pay channels, offered to viewers on an à la carte basis.
If the VideoGuard encryption is maintained, all viewers will be required to purchase the PLN 50 smart card to enjoy reception of two of the country’s most popular channels.
Launching the DTH platform was one of the last actions of TVP’s former president Piotr Farfal, who has been replaced by Boguslaw Szwedo and a new management team.
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