PIKE 2012 – Jachranka. Poland’s cable industry, despite finding itself in a period of consolidation, faces challenges from a number of sources.
Speaking in a session entitled Cable TV market models in Europe: threats and opportunities, Jerzy Straszewski, the president of PIKE, said that it had to be aware of the possible impact of DTT and how it may attract low-end cable subscribers.
He added that the Polish cable industry also faces the threat of increased regulation, as well connected (smart) TV.
In the latter case, he cited the example of Toya, which was taking the initiative by becoming involved in the value chain.
Commenting on consolidation, Straszewski said that aside from the capital model – the most recent example being UPC Polsk’a take-over of Aster – there was a technological one in which operators are joining forces to reduce the costs of digitisation.
Providing perspectives from other markets in the CEE region, Tomas Cyvas, a member of the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (LRTK), said that regulation in Lithuania is quite liberal, with no specific requirements being placed on operators.
Ferenc Kéry, the president of the Hungarian Cable Communications Association (HCA), meanwhile said that it is important not to overregulate cable.
In his view, the biggest threat to the industry was posed by OTT providers if operators could not find a proper business model.
