The focus of this week’s Hungarian cable conference, held in the resort of Tihany, was undoubtedly the regulator NMHH and its plans for the future.
Besides giving the keynote, its VP Gábor Mátrai took centre stage in a panel discussion that included senior executives from UPC, Magyar Telekom and the country’s two leading broadcasters RTL Klub and TV2.
What emerged from the conference and other discussions is that these are indeed difficult times in Hungary. On the economic front, one delegate referred to it as Greece without the euro, and this is undoubtedly having an impact on the country’s TV industry.
There is always an issue that seems to have Hungarian cable operators up and arms and it currently happens to be that of ‘community’ channels. On the face of it, they don’t appear to be such a problem: one new and two existing channels will effectively be given quasi must-carry status.
However, what makes the situation unique is that operators will be required to reach an agreement with the channels and failure to do so will result in one being effectively forced on them. Just as worryingly, this could be just the start, with other channels possibly being added to the list at a future date.
On other issues, Hungary currently finds itself in the unique position of having not one but two analogue switch-off dates. Although Mátrai revealed that a final decision would be made this October, he added that a two-date solution could remain, with commercial and public TV services ending their analogue transmissions at different times.
The problem lies in the fact that RTL Klub and TV2 are currently operating on national analogue licences that expire next year. Both are keen on a smooth transition and will in addition remain hugely important players in the new digital landscape: while RTL Klub already has a portfolio of thematic channels, TV2 is likely to develop one.
Mátrai referred to the important changes now taking place on the Hungarian DTT platform – a third multiplex, hitherto reserved for DVB-H services, is being reallocated to an extended pay-TV offer, with another becoming a wholly public service multiplex – and also touched on the issue of set-top box subsidies, which he intriguingly said might also be made available for the reception of non-terrestrial services.
However, a more pressing issue – at least for Hungarian cablecos –currently appears to be the introduction of regulations on cable subscription contracts. Due to come in effect later this year, they will require operators to inform customers 30 days in advance of any changes they plan to introduce.
Although Mátrai tried to dampen concerns on must carry by saying that Hungary would seek balance and not go down the route of France and the Netherlands, the conference still left far too many questions unanswered.
