The DTH platforms Skylink and CS Link are running almost neck-and-neck with Digi TV in terms of paying customers in the Czech Republic.
Figures published by Digizone show that Skylink and CS Link, both of which are owned by the Luxembourg-based M77 Group, ended with the second quarter with 195,000 such customers.
RCS&RDS-owned Digi TV, on the other hand, had 190,000 and UPC’s freeSAT 90,600. Skylink and CS Link together are believed to have around 500,000 active cards in the Czech Republic.
Although the majority of their customers still receive the free basic channel package, they will be required to pay a controversial service charge of CZK29 (€1.15) a month for it from September.
Skylink, CS Link, Digi TV and freeSAT also operate in neighbouring Slovakia.
