Czech O2 ups the ante

The incumbent Czech telco Telefónica O2 is to launch a new triple play offer. Known as O2 Trio, it will compete directly with one provided by UPC and Mattes, a company based in the town of Frydek-Mistek. The entry-level cost of receiving the O2 Trio basic package will be CZK999 (€35.5) for the first three months, after which it remain over CZK199 cheaper than the standard pricing. Telefónica O2 launched an IPTV service known as O2 TV in September 2006 that as of last month already had 20,000 subscribers. Separately, it is reported that an arbitration case between the Czech Republic and Luxembourg-based company EMV will be heard in London next year. The case involving EMV and the loss of its commercial station TV3, which went off the air in 2002, has strong echoes of the CME/Vladimir Zelezny dispute over TV Nova. The latter ended with the Czech Republic having to pay out a huge sum to CME for the loss of TV Nova and the US company subsequently buying back the station two years later. The Czech millionaire Milos Cervenka is meanwhile reported to have taken over control of the parliamentary channel 24cz. He is now understood to be preparing the launch of a news-based service named 24 plus. (CD)