SES ASTRA has clearly stated that the terms and conditions of the agreement signed with the Polish public broadcaster TVP in 2005 are still valid.
Furthermore, quoted in Wirtualne Media, the MD of Astra CEE Krzysztof Surgowt has said that the agreement is legally binding.
The agreement was extended by Piotr Farfal, a former head of TVP, when he was on the brink of being dismissed from his post. Farfal is generally acknowledged to have pushed through the long-awaited launch of TVP’s DTH platform last autumn.
Since his eventual departure, however, development of the platform has effectively been put on hold.
The new management at TVP are understood to be of the view that Farfal negotiated the deal at unfavourable terms to the public broadcaster.
SES ASTRA, on the other hand, could demand compensation should the deal be terminated.
