To appreciate just how much broadcasting has changed in recent years in Central and Eastern Europe one needs look no further than Croatia.
For at least a decade following the country’s declaration of independence in 1991 the country’s TV industry was very much run-of-the mill: an all-powerful public broadcaster, facing competition from a small number of local commercial TV stations, along with relatively undeveloped cable and DTH sectors.
Today, that same public broadcaster HTV operates in a market also served by two strong national commercial stations – CME’s Nova TV and RTL Group’s RTL Televizija, each of which operates a second channel (Doma TV and RTL 2 respectively) – new digital channels (such as Sports Television, launched in April this year) and regional and local TV stations.
Moreover, the country’s cable industry is much more developed, with B.net, the leading player, now reaching over 265,000 homes. B.net, which owned by Telekom Austria, in addition operates the Total TV DTH platform in conjunction with Mid Europa Partners (MEP)-backed Serbia Broadband (SBB) in a satellite sector in which Digi TV is also present.
What is more, Croatia has one of the largest IPTV markets in Central and Eastern Europe, with the leading service alone – MAXtv, operated by the incumbent telco Hrvatski Telekom – claiming over 200,000 subscribers.
Hrvatski Telekom also owns, through a subsidiary, a second IPTV platform named Iskon TV, and IPTV services are in addition provide by at least two alternative telcos (Optima Telekom and H1 Telekom).
Croatia has also completed the transition to digital broadcasting and three multiplexes up and running.
All these issues and more will be discussed at the latest Business Breakfast organised by Broadband TV News and Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, which will take place at the Westin in Zagreb on Thursday, November 10. Featuring speakers from the leading industry players, it will provide a good overview of the Croatian digital TV market and – just as importantly – its prospects for the future.
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