Bulgaria’s leading cable operator Blizoo has spoken exclusively to Broadband TV News about the progress it has made to date and its plans for the future.
Acquired by the Swedish fund EQT V in October 2009, it underwent a huge restructuring in 2010/11 and today finds itself in a strong position in what is a highly competitive pay-TV market.
In that market, which by various estimates numbers between 2 million and 2.5 million homes, Bulsatcom, Blizoo and Vivacom occupy the top three spots, with 900,000, 400,000 and 200,000 subscribers respectively, M-Tel claiming fourth spot with 60,000.
According to Vassil Shtonov, Blizoo’s strategy and content officer, the operator currently offers its viewers up to 150 channels, 25 for which are in HD, but has the capacity to provide up to 300 channels. Although 86% of its subscriber base is digital, its analogue offer remains of a very high quality.
Blizoo’s network is also 92% DOCSIS 3.0-enabled, which is higher than any other network in Bulgaria.
While it offers internet access of up 150 Mbps to its broadband subscribers, in practical terms, due to limitations in reception equipment, most customers are not ready to receive more than 100 Mbps.
Shtonov added that Blizoo’s strategy is to focus on its basic offer; OTT (specifically by providing HBO Go); simple boxes, charging customers for some convenience; and catch-up.
Although Blizoo currently offers a limited form of catch up and the feature is supported by its STBs, the operator would like to launch a full service. What holds it back is TV rights, rather than the technology.
Commenting on the Bulgarian market in general, Shtonov said that the company has made a conscious decision not to enter the price war that is currently taking place between other pay-TV companies. The bundles it offers are the best and its subscriber base is growing.
Shtonov also said that Blizoo has managed to reduce its churn by a third. Its plans currently include the development of an app that will allow smartphones to be used as fixed phones at home.
Blizoo is also the leading cable operator in Macedonia, where its footprint reaches a third of the country and it has a 50% share of the pay-TV market. Within Bulgaria itself, Blizoo’s footprint is 50%.
Although the operator has a 15-18% pay-TV market share in Bulgaria as a whole, the figure rises to 34% in its footprint.
